Progress toward understanding the contribution of alkali generation in dental biofilms to inhibition of dental caries.

Abstract

Alkali production by oral bacteria is believed to have a major impact on oral microbial ecology and to be inhibitory to the initiation and progression of dental caries. A substantial body of evidence is beginning to accumulate that indicates the modulation of the alkalinogenic potential of dental biofilms may be a promising strategy for caries control. This brief review highlights recent progress toward understanding molecular genetic and physiologic aspects of important alkali-generating pathways in oral bacteria, and the role of alkali production in the ecology of dental biofilms in health and disease.

• Authors: Ya-Ling Liu, Marcelle Nascimento, Robert A Burne
• Journal: International journal of oral science (Int J Oral Sci) Vol. 4 Issue 3 Pg. 135-40 (Sep 2012) ISSN: 1674-2818 [Print] India
• PMID: 22996271 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Review)

Chemical References

• Alkalies
• Agmatine
• Arginine
• Hydrolases
• Urease
• arginine deiminase

Topics

• Agmatine (metabolism)
• Alkalies (metabolism)
• Arginine (metabolism)
• Dental Caries (prevention & control)
• Dental Plaque (enzymology, metabolism, microbiology)
• Humans
• Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
• Hydrolases (metabolism)
• Urease (metabolism)