New Tool Helps Fight Gum Disease: Graphene

New findings published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces are working to find various dental diseases that are caused by an overgrowth of certain bacteria in the mouth; these are also among some of the most common health problems in the world.

Now, scientists have discovered that a material known as graphene oxide can help in eliminating bacteria that has developed antibiotic resistance.

Lead study author Zisheng Tang and researchers at the Natural Science Foundation and the Hospital-Public Cross-Link Project of Shanghai Jiao Tong University found that dentists often prescribe traditional antibiotics to rid the mouth of bacteria that can flood the mouth with tooth decay and cause gum disease. However, due to antibiotic resistance, new approaches are necessary to stop the problems that lead to tooth loss.

Previous research has shown that graphene oxide, which is carbon nanosheets when broken down with oxygen groups, show promising in working as biomedical applications. It works by inhibiting the growth of certain bacterial strains with very minimal harm to mammalian cells. Researchers worked to see if the nanosheets could also stop the specific cause of dental diseases that are caused by certain strains of bacteria.

They tested material against three different species of bacteria that are also linked to tooth decay and gum disease. Findings showed that graphene oxide effectively slowed the growth of the pathogens. With future research, the study authors believe that nanosheets could have use in solving bacterial dental problems.