Method for reducing the viability of detrimental oral microorganisms in an individual, and for prevention and/or treatment of diseases caused by such microorganisms; and whitening and/or cleaning of an individual's teeth

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for reducing the viability of detrimental oral microorganisms in an individual, said method comprising subjecting the individual's oral cavity to a bioactive glass, the average particle size of which is less than 100 μm. Furthermore, this invention concerns a method for the prevention of dental caries and/or gingivitis in an individual, said caries being caused by a cariogenic bacteria; or for prevention or treatment of periapical infections. Further the invention relates to a method for the whitening and/or mechanical cleaning of an individual's teeth.

1 . A method for reducing the viability of detrimental oral microorganisms in an individual, said method comprising subjecting the individual's oral cavity to a bioactive glass, the average particle size of which is less than 100 μm.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the average particle size is less than 50 μm, preferably about 20 μm or less.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the bioactive glass is administered as a composition comprising particles of the bioactive glass admixed into water or an aqueous solution.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the composition is a paste comprising about 40 to 80 weight-% of bioactive glass.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the bioactive glass is selected from a bioactive glass having the composition SiO 2  53%; CaO 20%; P 2 O 5  4% and Na 2 O 23% by weight, or SiO 2  53%; CaO 20%; P 2 O 5  4%, Na 2 O 6%, K 2 O 12% and MgO 5% by weight.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detrimental oral microorganisms are cariogenic bacteria.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the cariogenic bacteria are  Actinomyces naeslundii  and/or  Streptococcus mutans.    
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detrimental oral microorganisms are periodontal bacteria.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the periodontal bacteria are  Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans  and/or  Porphyromonas gingivalis.    
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the treatment is carried out for about 10 minutes.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the viability of benign oral microorganisms is reduced less than the viability of the detrimental oral microorganisms.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the benign oral microorganism is  Streptococcus sanguis.    
     
     
         13 . A method for the prevention of dental caries and/or gingivitis in an individual, said caries being caused by a cariogenic bacteria, or for prevention or treatment of periapical infections, said method comprising subjecting the individual's oral cavity and/or root canals to a bioactive glass, the average particle size of which is less than 100 μm.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the average particle size is less than 50 μm, preferably about 20 μm or less.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the bioactive glass is administered as a composition comprising particles of the bioactive glass admixed into water or an aqueous solution.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the composition is a paste comprising about 40 to 80 weight-% of bioactive glass.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the bioactive glass is selected from a bioactive glass having the composition SiO 2  53%; CaO 20%; P 2 O 5  4% and Na 2 O 23% by weight, or SiO 2  53%; CaO 20%; P 2 O 5  4%, Na 2 O 6%, K 2 O 12% and MgO 5% by weight.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the cariogenic bacteria are  Actinomyces naeslundii  and/or  Streptococcus mutans.    
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the treatment is carried out for about 10 minutes.  
     
     
         20 . A method for the whitening and/or mechanical cleaning of an individual's teeth, said method comprising subjecting the individual's oral cavity to a bioactive glass, the average particle size of which is less than 100 μm.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the average particle size is less than 50 μm, preferably about 20 μm or less.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the bioactive glass is administered as a composition comprising particles of the bioactive glass admixed into water or an aqueous solution.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the composition is a paste comprising about 40 to 80 weight-% of bioactive glass.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the bioactive glass is selected from a bioactive glass having the composition SiO 2  53%; CaO 20%; P 2 O 5  4% and Na 2 O 23% by weight, or SiO 2  53%; CaO 20%; P 2 O 5  4%, Na 2 O 6%, K 2 O 12% and MgO 5% by weight.