Examining the Impact of Commercially Available Oral Gel in an in vitro Biofilm Model

Abstract

Dental plaque (a type of oral biofilm) is a microbial community that grows on the tooth surface. This community is remarkably stable despite varying environmental factors. When this equilibrium is disturbed, infections and other kinds of damage are at risk of arising, like tooth and gum disease. Oral biofilms grown in a laboratory setting allows us to better understand how they develop and can contribute to therapeutic strategies against oral and systemic diseases. Xerostomia, more commonly known dry mouth, occurs when salivary glands stop working properly or altogether. This decreases saliva production, resulting in a dry mouth that can be uncomfortable and make it difficult to perform simple daily functions, such as talking and swallowing. However, symptoms can be alleviated with over the counter products, such as oral gel. In this experiment, it was hypothesized that dental plaque grown in various oral gel concentrations would have different biofilm formation and composition compared to natural saliva conditions. It was found that the formation of dental plaque biofilm was significantly lower in higher concentrations of oral gel. These findings partially supported the hypothesis, but more work in the future is necessary.