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A mouthwash has been developed that permanently protects against tooth decay
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
A new mouthwash developed by microbiologists from the UCLA School of Dentistry (USA) has shown high effectiveness in treating infections caused by the bacterium Streptococcus mutans, which is the leading cause of tooth decay.
The clinical trial involved 12 people who rinsed their mouths with the experimental liquid once a day. The results of the four-day testing period showed almost complete elimination of S. mutans.
The results of this small study are published in the current issue of the international dental journal Caries Research.
Dental caries is one of the most common and costly infectious diseases in the United States, affecting more than 50% of children and most adults aged 18 and older. Americans spend more than $70 billion each year on dental care, with most of that money going to treating cavities.
The new mouthwash is the product of nearly a decade of research by Dr. W. Shi, chairman of the biology section at UCLA. Shi developed the new technology, called "antimicrobial STAMP" (known as C16G2), with support from Colgate-Palmolive and C3-Jian Inc.
The human body is home to millions of different bacteria, some of which cause diseases such as dental caries, but many of which are vital to human health. The most common broad-spectrum antibiotics, like regular mouthwashes, indiscriminately kill both beneficial and pathogenic bacteria.
Overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics can seriously disrupt the body's normal ecological balance, making people more susceptible to bacterial, yeast (fungal), and parasitic infections.
The drug under study, Sm Shi STAMP C16G2, acts as a "smart bomb", eliminating only harmful bacteria, remaining effective for a long period.
Based on the success of this clinical study, C3-Jian Inc has submitted an application to the FDA to begin a larger clinical study, scheduled for March 2012. If the FDA approves Sm STAMP C16G2 for general use, it will be the first "anti-caries" drug in the world.
"With this new antimicrobial technology, we have the prospect of being free of tooth decay for life," Dr. Shi said.
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