On the gum, a protein would have an antibacterial power capable of destroying the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis. The latter is linked to neurodegenerative diseases.
If it was missing, here is a new good reason to take care of your oral health. According to a study conducted by researchers from the faculty of dentistry at the University of Montreal (Canada), there is a link between the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and the presence of bacteria in the gums. These findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
In detail, a protein (SCPPPQ1) present in the gums would have an antibacterial power capable of destroying the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). An interesting power because this bacterium might also be linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
“The antibacterial potential of the SCPPPQ1 protein might be exploited not only to limit periodontal disease, but also as a therapeutic approach to check the effects of bacteria in the brain or at other sites to which they have spread.“, details Antonio Nanci, researcher and professor in the Department of Stomatology at the University of Montreal. For Charline Mary, the main author of the article, this protein might even provide “an additional strategy to solve the problem of bacterial resistance“.
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Prevent the onset of disease
After the intestine, the mouth represents the second oral environment of the human body. “The teeth are the only place where the integral envelope of the human body is penetrated, so they are a critical place for the entry of bacteria“, underlines Professor Nanci. Before adding: “As we have known for some years, oral infection by P. gingivalis is one of the main risk factors for the development of Alzheimer’s disease. As SCPPPQ1 can slow the growth of this bacteria and even destroy it, we can attack the cause of problems at their source and help prevent more than one disease.“. Further studies should examine how this protein can prevent the onset of periodontal disease, in particular by adding it to toothpaste.
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