PERIO-DEFENSE™ KEY INGREDIENTS
PeriPerio-Tek Main Ingredients
Sodium Bicarbonate/Silicon Dioxide
Short and long term studies have evaluated the use of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3, baking soda) as an adjunct to home plaque control and found, in addition to affirming its safety, that it can be as effective as conventional oral hygiene care in reducing plaque and gingivitis (4-9). In general, the investigators studied sodium bicarbonate in combination with hydrogen peroxide as advocated by the "Keyes Technique," which was promoted by Dr. Paul Keyes and colleagues in the late 1970's and early 1980's (10-17). The technique based on the rationale that specific bacteria cause periodontal disease (gum problems, gingivitis) , stressed use of the phase contrast microscope to monitor certain bacterial populations in the subgingival plaque.
Newbrun et al (18), in an in vitro study, examined the bactericidal action of the bicarbonate ion on periodontal pathogens and determined that selected pathogens were destroyed with 99% lethality within 30-120 minutes, and thus concluded that sodium bicarbonate does inhibit oral bacterial growth.
In the spring of 1996 Arnold and Uman (19), in an in-vivo study examined the effects of a bicarbonate and silicone dioxide oral dentifrice on gingivitis, bleeding, plaque, and pathogenic microflora. It was demonstrated that the bicarbonate and silicone dioxide combination had a significant and substantial bactericidal effect against the anaerobic pathogens that cause these conditions.
Cranberry Extract
Scientists from Tel Aviv University in Israel have published research in The Journal of the American Dental Association suggesting that chemicals in cranberries might make it more difficult for bacteria-causing plaque to stick to teeth - in much the same way cranberries might prevent bacteria from hitching to the bladder (20). In this study, tests were conducted to determine if cranberries had indeed a non-stick effect on the bacteria that are most commonly found in the oral cavity. It was reported that the bacteria did not join to form plaque. Researchers have found that a substance exists in the tart berry that helps bacteria from adhering to one another to form plaque. (21-23)
Tea Tree Oil
Arthur Penfold, Curator and Chemist at the Technological Museum, Sydney first disclosed the scientific discovery of Tea Tree Oil in 1922 when he presented a paper to the Royal Society of New South Wales. 24 Further interest was created when Penfold and Grant published a work on Tea Tree Oil, which indicated that it had a Redealwalker co-efficient score of between 11 and 13. This score indicates that the oil is 11 to 13 times more powerful than Carbolic acid (Phenol) for killing bacteria and fungi yet non-caustic to the skin (25) . Since his early work, additional articles have been published detailing research proving the efficacy of Tea Tree Oil as an antiseptic and fungicide.
V MacDonald 26 reported Tea Tree Oil as "an antiseptic, which more nearly answers the ideal than any previously tested." Also in 1985, researchers at the University of Queensland Dental School showed that tea tree oil acted against a variety of oral pathogens, which cause a variety of dental problems including tooth decay and gum disease (27).
MSM
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a naturally occurring nutrient, a sulfur compound, found in normal human diets and the diet of all other vertebrates. Sulfur is an element present in all living organisms. Clinical has demonstrated that MSM topically applied in a lotion and taken internally demonstrated both pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties without serious side effects (28). In oral applications MSM has been used in conjunction with toothpaste to decrease inflammation of the oral mucosa and to help clean teeth (28). The researcher's postulate that MSM's anti-inflammatory properties may have a beneficial effect in reducing the swelling, redness and inflammation in the gum space.
Probiotics
Common antibiotic therapy not only kills the pathogenic bacteria but also kills "friendly bacteria" like lactobacilli and streptococci and may upset gastrointestinal microbial balance. Anti-microbial agents are usually non-discerning and will kill off the populations of healthful bacteria also. L. acidophilus may thus help in restoring the optimal microbial balance in the gut and oral cavity. Probiotics inhibit the growth of twenty-three toxic producing microorganisms (29-30) L. acidophilus, by virtue of their inhibiting gastrointestinal and uropathogens, may help reduce the occurrence of bacterial infection in the oral cavity as well as the entire gastrointestinal track. (31 )
Xylitol
Clinical research has shown xylitol to be a valuable adjunctive modality in dental care. Clinical and field tests demonstrated dramatic reductions in new tooth decay, along with arrest and even some reversal of existing dental cavities, as well as inhibition of plaque formation and remineralization of tooth enamel.
- Inhibits plaque and dental cavities by 80%
- Retards demineralization of tooth enamel
- Antibacterial qualities
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