ORAL RINSE: Unique Anti-Microbial Rinse To Reduce Oral Inflammation
One of the routes to infection is through the mouth.
It’s time to barricade that route. Periodontal disease has been recently identified as a risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality for systemic diseases. These include pancreatic cancer, cardiovascular disease (atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, stroke) and diabetes. Pregnancy complications such as preterm birth are also on this list. It is well established that periodontal disease is the result of microorganisms in dental plaque biofilm. Inflammatory reactions initiated by oral bacteria and their components are implicated locally in the pathogenesis of periodontal tissue destruction; they may contribute to the development of systemic disease. While causality has yet to be confirmed, some studies have shown that oral health interventions may impact biological markers of inflammation and disease. The goal of this project is to develop a iodine-based prescription antimicrobial oral rinse to reduce bacterial bioburden in the oral cavity and combat oral disease and inflammation. Current oral rinse products are either fraught with side effects such as staining and taste alterations. These limit their usage in acute situations—or they are ineffective. Based on preliminary studies, our iodine-based oral rinse is expected to be more effective than existing prescription products but without side effects. The development of a highly effective oral rinse may have the potential to impact public health profoundly—and achieve significant commercial success.
This study is a Fast-Track NIH SBIR grant funded by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.