There could be new ways to prevent and cure gum disease! Also known as periodontitis, gum disease affects many people around the world and can lead to loose teeth, infections, and damage to the gums. This widespread condition is associated with bacterial species that colonize dental plaque, particularly along the gum line, where they trigger inflammation (gingivitis) that can progress to chronic periodontitis Among the more than 700 bacterial species constituting the oral microbiome, only a limited subset is associated with the development of periodontitis.
Specific targeting of the disease-causing bacteria
Conventional oral care products such as alcohol-based mouthwashes or chlorhexidine kill harmful bacteria but also wipe out beneficial microbes. Unfortunately, when the oral microbiome regrows, pathogenic bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis rebound fastest — because they thrive in inflamed gum tissue — while beneficial bacteria lag behind. The result is a rapid return to microbial imbalance and recurring disease.
That’s were German scientists come in! Researchers at the Halle branch of the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI) have identified a compound — guanidinoethylbenzylamino imidazopyridine acetate — that selectively inhibits harmful pathogens responsible for gingivitis while leaving other bacteria unaffected.
Microbiome-friendly oral care solutions
In 2018, these early findings led to the founding of Periotrap Pharmaceuticals GmbH, a spin-off company focused on developing innovative oral care products targeting periodontal pathogens.
PerioTrap created a microbiome-friendly toothpaste in close collaboration with the Fraunhofer scientists. “The product is designed to prevent periodontitis. Like conventional toothpaste, it also contains abrasives and fluoride to prevent tooth decay,” explains Mirko Buchholz, one of the spin-off’s founders.
The Fraunhofer IZI team conducted biochemical analyses and structural biology studies to support product development. “This allowed us to gain a better understanding of how the substances worked and determine the optimum composition of the toothpaste’s active ingredients,” explained Stephan Schilling, Head of the Molecular Drug Biochemistry and Therapy Development at Fraunhofer IZI. “Rather than simply killing gingivitis pathogens, it inhibits their growth. They are unable to exert their toxic effects, so beneficial bacteria can occupy niches that would otherwise be inaccessible to them. In this way, the substance works in harmony with healthy bacteria to gently rebuild and stabilize the microbial balance in the mouth,” detailed Schilling.
PerioTrap’s work extends beyond toothpaste. Together with Fraunhofer institutes, the company has developed a post-cleaning care gel to block harmful bacteria, stabilize the oral microbiome, and promote healthy gums. Ain addition, a next-generation mouthwash is now in development.
