Toothpaste is an essential product in the basic oral hygiene of every person. There are many different types of pasta that specialize in certain cleaning and care functions. In general, the main agents in these products are cleansers, those that prevent cavities, those that act against the accumulation of tartar, whiteners, those that control tooth sensitivity and those that attack bacteria.
Now a new study, carried out by Michigan State University (USA), has discovered that toothpaste contains an antibacterial substance (common among all the types mentioned above) capable of fighting potentially dangerous diseases for people. Specifically, it acts on deadly diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF), when combined with a drug.
Research shows that when triclosan (a substance that reduces and prevents the growth of bacteria) is combined with tobramycin (an antibiotic), it kills 99.9% of the cells that protect CF (called Pseudomonas aeruginosa ).
Cystic fibrosis, a magnet for bacteria
According to the Spanish Federation of Cystic Fibrosis, this is defined as a serious and hereditary pathology that mainly affects the lungs and the digestive system . This alteration produces a progressive decrease in the content of water, sodium and potassium in the mentioned organs, obstructing the secretion channels and leading to the development of infections. Currently, in Spain it manifests itself in one case in every 5,000 births, and in addition, one in every 35 inhabitants are healthy carriers of the disease. Those affected play with a limited life expectancy and, for the moment, it is a disease that has no cure .
By producing a build-up of thick mucus in the lungs, it turns the affected area into a magnet for bacteria. The latter are especially difficult to kill because they are protected by a viscous barrier known as a biofilm , which allows the disease to thrive, even when treated with antibiotics.
Chris Waters , lead author of the study and professor of microbiology, says that this is the problem they are facing, that of finding an effective way to eliminate these bacteria.
According to Waters, there are many common infections related to this bacteria , such as ear infections or swollen gums. However, it can lead to more serious diseases like CF, such as endocarditis or inflammation of the heart.
“It is well known that triclosan, when used alone, is not effective in destroying Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ” says Alessandra Hunt , a postdoctoral associate in microbiology and molecular genetics. “However, when we combined it with tobramycin, we found that triclosan always worked.”
Triclosan has been used for the past forty years in soaps, makeup, and other commercial products due to its antibacterial properties. The Food and Drug Administration decided to limit its use in soaps and hand sanitizers , due to insufficient data on its possible effects if it is used excessively. Now, new evidence has shown that its use in toothpaste is safe and highly effective in the fight against gingivitis.
Over the next year, Waters’ team will begin to experiment with its effectiveness in a therapy tested in mice . This finding is expected to lead to a human trial in the future. However, experts warn that this will not be a solution for treating lung infections.
