A chemical designed by scientists in Chile could be the key to preventing tooth decay permanently, according to recent reports. The molecule is known as ‘Keep 32’ – in reference to the 32 teeth in a human mouth – and dentists claim it can wipe out all bacteria that cause cavities in under a minute. Developers hope that the chemical could be used in various dental products, such as toothpaste and mouthwash, turning them into ‘super-cleansers’, that could fight the underlying causes of decay and stop cavities from developing.
‘Keep 32’ targets the bacterium ‘streptococcus mutans’, which converts sugar into lactic acid and erodes the outer layer of teeth; by getting rid of this germ, the chemical can prevent enamel damage and the decay it normally leads to. The product has been tested for the past seven years by researchers Jose Cordova, of Yale University, and Erich Astudillo, from the University of Chile, and now the pair are hoping to start testing it on humans in the coming months. With successful trials, ‘Keep 32’ could be on the market within a year and a half, with further development leading to a version being added to certain foods to stop bacteria damaging teeth during meal times.
Cordova and Astudillo told the media they were currently in talks with five major parties who are interested in investing with ‘Keep 32’ to fund on-going research, or to buy the patent and begin trading.