A few years ago, a report made the rounds in the media: Chinese researchers were said to have developed a vaccine against tooth decay. It sounds tempting – just get vaccinated and never have cavities again. But how do things actually look today, several years on?
What was being researched
The idea is, in principle, quite understandable. Tooth decay is caused by bacteria, above all by Streptococcus mutans. These bacteria convert sugar into acid, which attacks the tooth enamel. A vaccine was meant to prompt the immune system to fight precisely these bacteria before they can cause any damage.
At the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a fusion protein was tested that was able to lower the rate of tooth decay in mice and rats. The researchers combined surface proteins of the bacterium with a carrier molecule intended to strengthen the immune response.
What came of it
In short: not much. The results in animal studies were promising, but the leap to humans has so far not been achieved. A key problem was inflammatory reactions – the vaccine triggered unwanted immune responses that were not acceptable for clinical use. The oral flora is also more complex than assumed: it consists of hundreds of bacterial species, and specifically eliminating one of them without disturbing the balance is more difficult than had been hoped.
As things stand today, there is no approved caries vaccine anywhere in the world, and to the best of our knowledge no Phase III clinical trial is under way either. The topic has not been dropped in research, but it is a long way from being ready for the market.
What really protects your teeth
Even without a vaccine, tooth decay can be prevented very effectively. The measures are not spectacular, but they are well proven:
Fluoride strengthens the tooth enamel and makes it more resistant to acid attacks. Fluoride toothpaste is the simplest and best-documented form of protection. In our practice, we can additionally seal the tooth enamel with a fluoride varnish – particularly useful for children and patients with an increased risk of tooth decay.
Diet plays a major role. It is not only the amount of sugar that matters, but how often each day the teeth come into contact with it. Anyone who is constantly snacking between meals or drinking sweetened beverages keeps supplying the bacteria throughout the day.
Regular check-ups and prophylaxis catch problems before they become costly. During professional teeth cleaning we remove deposits in places you cannot reach with a toothbrush. And at the check-up examination we detect tooth decay at an early stage – often before a cavity even forms.
Our advice
Don't wait for the vaccine. Good dental care, less snacking on sugar and regular appointments with your dentist remain the best protection against tooth decay. Simple, but effective.
Would you like to know how high your personal risk of tooth decay is? Arrange an appointment – and we'll take a look at it together.
