Oral Care Composition Using Enzymes to Balance Bacterial Flora
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oral care compositions rely on bactericidal agents to combat bacteria, but fail to effectively balance the oral microbiome towards promoting good oral health by reducing anaerobic bacteria associated with gum disease and increasing aerobic bacteria.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising zinc ions and specific enzymes such as amylglucosidase, glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase, and optionally lysozyme, lactoferrin, and colostrum, which balances the bacterial flora by decreasing anaerobic bacteria and promoting aerobic bacteria, along with surfactants, structurants, and abrasive materials in a dentifrice form.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If bactericidal agents are used to combat bacteria, then bacterial reduction is achieved, but the oral microbiome balance is not effectively improved
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using bactericidal agents to kill bacteria, the patent inverts the approach by using enzymes to selectively reduce anaerobic bacteria while promoting aerobic bacteria, thereby achieving microbiome balance through selective modulation rather than broad-spectrum destruction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different functional properties to different bacterial types: enzymes with specific activity against anaerobic bacteria are used, while conditions favorable for aerobic bacteria are created. This local differentiation in treatment quality enables selective bacterial modulation without affecting all bacteria uniformly
2Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional anti-bacterials are used, then bacteria are destroyed, but aerobic bacteria associated with good oral health are not increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces enzymes as intermediary substances that mediate between the oral environment and bacterial populations. These enzymes selectively target anaerobic bacteria while creating conditions that favor aerobic bacteria, acting as a bridge to achieve the desired microbiome shift without directly adding aerobic bacteria
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters of the oral environment through enzyme action, including oxygen availability, pH, and substrate composition. These parameter changes create conditions that naturally favor the growth of aerobic bacteria while suppressing anaerobic bacteria, achieving the desired bacterial population shift
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition significantly shifts the oral microbiome balance by increasing health-related aerobic bacteria and decreasing disease-related anaerobic bacteria, as demonstrated by a double-blind study showing a significant change in plaque microbiome after 14 weeks of use.
Implementation Method 1
an oxoreductase acting on OH groups of donors, specifically glucose oxidase
Implementation Method 2
a hemeperoxidase, specifically a lactoperoxidase
Implementation Method 3
a glycoside hydrolase, specifically amylglucosidase
Implementation Method 4
compositions comprising enzymes can be used to decrease the numbers of anaerobic bacterial
Data Source
AI summary
A composition comprising enzymes for use in a method to balance the bacterial flora of the mouth.