Incorporation of exogenous lactic bacteria into the oral microflora

Abstract

Compositions for the prophylaxis or treatment of dental caries, dental plaque, and periodontal infection that include lactic bacteria that are not part of the resident microflora of the mouth, that are low acidifying, and that are capable of adhering directly to the pellicle of the teeth. The compositions are used in methods of treating or preventing dental caries, dental plaque, and periodontal infection.

1 . A method of treating or preventing dental caries, dental plaque, and periodontal infection in humans or animals comprising administering to the oral cavity of a human or animal one or more lactic bacteria that are not part of the resident microflora of the human mouth, that are low acidifying in that when administered they provide a pH in the oral cavity of 5.5 to 7, and that are capable of adhering directly to the pellicle of the teeth to displace from the teeth or prevent attachment to the teeth of cariogenic strains of bacteria that are resident microflora of the mouth.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lactic bacteria are originally derived from a diary.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lactic bacteria comprise one or more of  Streptococcus thermophilus,llactococcus lactis  subsp.  lactis , or  Lactococcus lactis  subsp.  lactis  biovar  diacetylactis.    
     
     
         4 . The method of clam  1 , wherein the lactic bacteria have optimal growth at a temperature of 30° C. to 42° C.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lactic bacteria have been genetically modified to have improved adherence to the pellicle of the teeth by insertion of the X17390 gene, the X14490 gene, or the X53657 gene.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering the lactic bacteria in combination with one or more of milk, fermented milk, milk derivatives, or bacteriocin.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the milk derivative comprises one or more of a caseino-glycomacropeptide, micellar casein, fluorinated micellar casein, or renneted milk.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lactic bacteria that are used for treating or preventing dental caries are administered by way of a composition that contains the lactic bacteria in an amount of 10 4  to 10 9  cfu/g in order to provide the pH of at least 5.5 when the composition is administered to the oral cavity of a human or animal.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the composition further contains one or more of milk, fermented milk, or a milk derivative.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , which further comprises a bacteriocin in an amount of 0.00001 to 50 percent by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the composition includes a milk derivative comprising one or more of a caseino-glycomacropeptide, micellar casein, fluorinated micellar casein, or renneted milk in an amount of at least 0.1 percent by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the composition further comprises one or more of an oil soluble antioxidant or an abrasive.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the composition is in the form of a toothpaste, mouth rinse, gum, spray, beverage, candy, infant formula, ice cream, frozen dessert, sweet salad dressing, milk preparation, cheese, quark, yogurt, acidified milk, coffee cream or whipped cream.