New dental gel treats gum disease by stopping inflammation - The New Daily

The NYU researchers found that elevated levels of succinate activate the succinate receptor and stimulate bone loss.

These findings made the succinate receptor an appealing target for countering inflammation and bone loss – “and potentially stopping gum disease in its tracks”.

The NYU team, in a new paper, describe research that “lays the groundwork for a non-invasive treatment for gum disease that people could apply to the gums at home to prevent or treat gum disease”.

The topical gel blocks the receptor for succinate and treats gum disease by suppressing inflammation and changing the makeup of bacteria in the mouth.

Using metabolomic analyses, they found higher succinate levels in the samples from people and mice with gum disease.

To test the connection between the succinate receptor and the components of gum disease, they genetically altered mice to inactivate, or “knock out” the succinate receptor.

In “knockout” mice with gum disease, the researchers measured lower levels of inflammation in both the gum tissue and blood, as well as less bone loss.

When the researchers administered extra succinate to both types of mice, the gum disease worsened in the normal mice (those with the intact succinate receptor)?

However, the “knockout” mice were protected against inflammation, increases in unhealthy bacteria, and bone loss.

When the gel was applied to the gums of mice with gum disease, it reduced local and systemic inflammation and bone loss in a matter of days.

The long-term goal is to develop a gel and oral strip that can be used at home by people with or at risk for gum disease, as well as a stronger, slow-release formulation that dentists can apply to pockets that form in the gums during gum disease.