Mouthwash Dental Plaque A Microbial Biofilm Caltech i

Mouthwash Dental Plaque: A Microbial Biofilm Caltech i. GEM Meeting #3 Presentation by Robert Ovadia 5/8/08

Introduction • Oral Biofilms and Plaque Introduction The BIG Picture Mouthwash’s Fave Five Oral Biofilms and Plaque • Q: What is a Biofilm? • A: Well organized community of microorganisms protected by a matrix, usually formed under fluid conditions. 2 Caltech i. GEM Meeting #3 Presentation by Robert Ovadia 5/8/08

Introduction • Oral Biofilms and Plaque Introduction The BIG Picture Mouthwash’s Fave Five Oral Biofilms and Plaque • Plaque is a form of biofilm • Dental plaque consists of many bacterial species, but the most dominant are S. sanguis, and S. mutans. • Q: How is plaque formed? • A: By the WEAK attachment of these bacterial species to salivary glycoproteins that form on the surface of your teeth. 3 Caltech i. GEM Meeting #3 Presentation by Robert Ovadia 5/8/08

Introduction • Oral Biofilms and Plaque Introduction The BIG Picture Mouthwash’s Fave Five Oral Biofilms and Plaque • An enzyme on the surface of S. mutans called glycosyl transferase, uses dietary sugars (mainly sucrose), and forms extracellular sticky polymers of glucose (AKA, plaque). 4 Caltech i. GEM Meeting #3 Presentation by Robert Ovadia 5/8/08

Introduction • Oral Biofilms and Plaque Introduction The BIG Picture Mouthwash’s Fave Five Oral Biofilms and Plaque • Basic Properties of Biofilms are: • Consists of many microcolonies • These microcolonies have different environments, and they send out nutrients, waste, and oxygen to each other through fluid channels • They love low p. H environments • Most microorganisms in biofilms are resistant to antibiotics. Not good! 5 Caltech i. GEM Meeting #3 Presentation by Robert Ovadia 5/8/08

Introduction • Oral Biofilms and Plaque Introduction The BIG Picture Mouthwash’s Fave Five 6 Oral Biofilms and Plaque Caltech i. GEM Meeting #3 Presentation by Robert Ovadia 5/8/08

Introduction The BIG Picture Mouthwash’s Fave Five The BIG Picture How do we control plaque? • Lets try to target what it loves! • Can we create a neutral environment? • Or better, use inhibitors of acid production? • EX: Flouride, which increases resistance to enamel demineralization and promotes remineralization. 7 Caltech i. GEM Meeting #3 Presentation by Robert Ovadia 5/8/08

Introduction The BIG Picture Mouthwash’s Fave Five Mouthwash’s “Fave Five” Five projects for our Fave Five: 1. A device that can produce fluorides. 2. A device that maintains the p. H of a healthy mouth, base production. 3. Vary the oxygen concentration, redox agents such as methylene blue inhibits the growth of gingivitis forming bacteria. 4. Produce the wintergreen scent, or even better, different smelling scents. 5. The test dummy. Just kidding! 8 Caltech i. GEM Meeting #3 Presentation by Robert Ovadia 5/8/08

Introduction The BIG Picture Mouthwash’s Fave Five Sources 1. Overman, Pamela R. Biofilm. Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice Volume 1, No. 3, Sumer Issue 2000. 2. Marsh, Philip D. Dental plaque as a biofilm and microbial community - implications for health and disease. BMC Oral health. 10 July 2006. 3. Marsh, Philip D. Dental Plaque as a Microbial Biofilm. Caries Research 2004; 38: 204 -211 4. Enamel picture from Wikipedia. 9 Caltech i. GEM Meeting #3 Presentation by Robert Ovadia 5/8/08