Introduction
Milk’s protective molecules
Mechanisms of bioXtra®’s active ingredients
Summary of a study to compare the effects of two toothpastes on isolated and biofilms bacteria

Introduction

In the past biofilm bacteria have rarely been taken into consideration when developing oral hygiene products. Due to the organised structure of biofilm, studies have shown that local concentration of antibiotics or chemical agents necessary to eliminate biofilm bacteria would need to be 1000 times higher than for isolated bacteria.

It is well known that milk is a rich source of health-promoting components. Resulting from specialist research and technology Bio-X Healthcare has developed innovative oral care products which harness these natural molecules, present in untreated milk and in milk by-products. In vivo, these molecules have been shown to be effective in facilitating the dispersal of biofilm bacteria and provoking the mouth’s natural healing mechanisms.

Milk’s protective molecules

The antimicrobial function of Bio-X Healthcare’s active molecules is the same as that present in saliva, tears, breast milk and other human and animal secretory fluids.

LACTOFERRIN
 Key part of the primary defence system.
 Iron binding, anti-oxidant.
 Anti-bacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic.
 Modulates inflammatory-immune response.
 Promotes healthy bacteria.


LYSOZYME
 Antimicrobial protein.
 Inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
 Works in synergy with Lactoferrin.
 Found at bacterial sites in the mouth.
 Regulates caries and candida.

LACTOPEROXIDASE
 Reacts with substrates to produce saliva’s natural antibacterial agent-hypothiocyanite.
 Minimises harmful bacteria.
 Prevents tooth loss, gum disease, bad breath.

IMMUNOGLOBULINS
 Important proteins produced by the body’s immune system.
 Essential defence mechanism.
 Increases the body’s natural resistance to infection.
 At the first signs of infection, specific antibodies target and attack the micro-organisms responsible.
 Present in saliva and crevicular fluid.

COLOSTRUM EXTRACT
 Contains immune and non-immune factors, anti-bacterial molecules, vitamins and minerals.
 Activates the body’s natural protective mechanisms.
 Helps protect health and vitality.
 Helps control disease-causing organisms.
 Can limit the formation and adhesion. of anaerobic bacteria.
 Helps avoid cell damage.
 Provokes the mouth’s natural healing processes

The combined action of saliva’s immune and non-immune mechanisms in oral preparations has been shown to help prevent progressive oral disease, dental caries, and infections in the upper gastro-intestinal tract.

Mechanisms of bioXtra®’s active ingredients

Natural mechanisms maintain the mouth’s natural healing processes, discouraging the attachment of biofilm bacteria on oral surfaces.

The detached biofilm bacteria become isolated (planktonic) and subject to action of BioXtra’s antimicrobial
systems.

Summary of a study to compare the effects of two toothpastes on isolated and biofilms bacteria.

Dr. J-P Perraudin and Dr. P Courtois, Université Libre de Bruxelles. Journ. Int. Acad. Pério. 2001 : 120 (Abstract).

Two different aspects of the microflora colonisation can be distinguished.
The first consists of an isolatedform observed mainly in saliva.The second consists of a colonised form which can be observed in dental plaque or on mucosal surfaces.
The use of antimicrobial agents for the prevention and treatment of periodontal and dental plaque-related diseases is attracting con-siderable interest within the dental profession.

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The present study compares the effectiveness in vivo of two tooth¬paste formulations : Toothpaste A - containing the LactoperoxidaseSystem producing OSCN- (hypo- thiocyanite), and a Toothpaste B - containing Lactoferrin, Lysozyme,Lactoperoxidase System and Colo- strum Extract as antimicrobial agents.
Results indicate Toothpaste A has an inhibitory effect on a limited number of the planktonic bacteria present in the patients’ saliva.Conversely, Toothpaste B, containinga mixture of antibacterial agents inconjunction with Immunoglobulinsand Growth Factors (purified fromColostrum) was shown to be instrumental in removing colonised (biofilm) bacteria and to have a greater effect in controlling the subsequent higher proportion of planktonic bacteria found in the saliva		 The antibacterial activity for both formulations was calculated by anATP assessment of the bacteria versus the number of bacteria present.
Removal of the biofilm bacteria was demonstrated by observing the number of planktonic bacteriain the saliva of the patients using Toothpaste B compared to the number of bacteria in the saliva of the patients using Toothpaste A.
The action of Toothpaste B on the biofilm bacteria was also character¬ised by a reduction in dental plaque and lactic acid production.