Potential benefits of arginine formulation in oral health care products

Abstract

Arginine (Arg) is derived from dietary intake, body protein breakdown, and endogenous Arg production, and is also present in saliva. Arg has been introduced as an additive in toothpaste and other fluoride‐containing dental care products and is now being promoted as more efficacious than conventional fluoride‐only toothpaste for the prevention of dental caries. Arg inclusion in dentifrice could potentially inhibit oral biofilm formation and destabilize dental plaque. Arg is expected to inhibit oral biofilm formation and destabilize complex aggregates in dental plaque and its inclusion in mouth rinse could facilitate oral biofilm removal. The destabilization of the oral biofilm by Arg may facilitate the removal of dental plaque during routine oral care. Since removing this solid biological plaque from tooth surfaces by water rinsing or brushing can be difficult, Arg metabolism in oral biofilms leading to an increase in pH decreases the risk for caries development. Moreover, clinical data have shown that Arg‐containing toothpaste increased benefits leading to the prevention of dental caries. However, there are concerns regarding the use of Arg dentifrice in caries progression or regression and some studies contradict the claims of Arg benefits in caries progression or regression.

Arginine: A New Paradigm in Preventive Oral Care

“… 11 Fluoride does not prevent the first step in the caries process, that is, acid production by cariogenic bacteria. 12 Moreover, the actions of fluoride on acid-producing microbes may be diminishing due to the evolution of fluoride-resistant species. 9 Therefore, it is imperative to supplement fluoride dentifrice with other potent modifiers and develop new remineralization therapies to bridge the gap in caries management.…”

“… 10 In several clinical studies, adding arginine to oral healthcare products containing fluoride has shown to reduce the onset and progression of caries and dentin hypersensitivity. 12 …”