Would Anyone Swallow Gene Therapy For Tooth Decay?

Posting Date: 03/28/2000

Researchers say they may someday be able to squirt a genetically engineered bacteria in your mouth that will cure tooth decay.

Are you kidding me? Do scientists think people will let a dentist put an altered microbe in their mouth when they complain about something as effective as flouridated water?

What dental researchers are trying to do is use "replacement therapy" to eliminate the strain of Streptococcus mutans that colonizes the teeth and is the primary cause of tooth decay. They want to do this by substituting a similar microbe that is modified so it doesn?t produce lactic acid, according to a report in Science News.

Normally, sugar causes the bacterium to secrete lactic acid, which in turn destroys tooth enamel and causes cavities. The gene-altered microbe would kill the original S. mutans and thrive without the lactic acid production.

In experiments with rats on a high-sugar diet, tooth decay was stopped using the replacement therapy. The next step would be human trials, which must be given the go-ahead by the Food and Drug Administration.

Even though we spend $50 billion a year in this country to fight tooth decay, I have my doubts about the acceptance of this research. With the fear and paranoia over genetically modified food ? even if unfounded ? I can?t see people going to dentists for S. mutans replacement therapy anytime in the near future.

Source: Science News, March 18, 2000

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