By Morgan Nwanguma
Scientists have developed a new strategy to combat gum disease without destroying the mouth’s beneficial bacteria, marking a major departure from conventional treatments. Rather than eliminating all microbes, the new method selectively targets the harmful bacteria linked to periodontitis, allowing healthy bacteria to survive and naturally restore balance in the oral microbiome.
Periodontitis is a widespread disease with effects that extend far beyond oral health. Researchers at Fraunhofer Society identified a compound that specifically blocks the bacteria responsible for the condition while preserving the rest of the oral microbiome. The discovery has since been transformed into a line of oral care products by the spin-off company PerioTrap.
More than 700 species of bacteria live in the human mouth, yet only a small fraction are associated with periodontitis. These harmful microbes accumulate in dental plaque, particularly around the gum line, where they can trigger inflammation known as gingivitis. Without treatment, the inflammation may progress into chronic periodontitis, eventually causing gum recession and tooth loss.
The consequences may also reach beyond the mouth. Once harmful bacteria enter the bloodstream, they have been linked to serious health problems including diabetes, arthritis, rheumatic disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, and even Alzheimer’s disease.
Why Conventional Treatments Have Limitations
Traditional treatments such as alcohol-based mouthwashes and chlorhexidine rinses eliminate harmful bacteria, but they also destroy beneficial microbes that help maintain a healthy oral environment. After treatment, the oral microbiome must rebuild itself from the ground up. During this process, disease-causing bacteria like Porphyromonas gingivalis often regain dominance more quickly because they thrive in inflamed gum tissue. Beneficial bacteria recover more slowly, increasing the risk of microbial imbalance, or dysbiosis, and allowing the disease to return.
A More Targeted Approach
Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI discovered a substance that can suppress harmful pathogens without disrupting the wider microbial community. The compound, known as guanidinoethylbenzylamino imidazopyridine acetate, works by blocking the growth of bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis instead of killing them outright.
Stephan Schilling, Head of the Fraunhofer IZI branch Molecular Drug Biochemistry and Therapy Development, explains: “Rather than simply killing gingivitis pathogens, it inhibits their growth. They are unable to exert their toxic effects, so beneficial bacteria can occupy niches that would otherwise be inaccessible to them. In this way, the substance works in harmony with healthy bacteria to gently rebuild and stabilize the microbial balance in the mouth.”
From Research Discovery to Toothpaste
The technology was originally developed as part of a European Union-funded research project involving several international collaborators. In 2018, Periotrap Pharmaceuticals GmbH was founded to translate the discovery into practical oral care products. In collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI and the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, the company developed a toothpaste specifically designed to protect and support the natural balance of the oral microbiome.
“The product is designed to prevent periodontitis. Like conventional toothpaste, it also contains abrasives and fluoride to prevent tooth decay,” explains Mirko Buchholz, one of the company’s founders.
Overcoming Development Hurdles
Turning the compound into a safe and effective ingredient for oral care products required extensive research and testing. The formulation had to successfully block harmful bacteria without posing risks during everyday use. It also needed to avoid entering the bloodstream, causing toxicity, or staining the teeth.
To meet these requirements, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI conducted detailed biochemical and structural analyses to better understand how the compound functions and to optimize the final formulation.
“This allows us to gain a better understanding of how the substances work and determine the optimum composition of the toothpaste’s active ingredients,” Schilling explains.
Evaluating Toothpaste Safety and Performance
The Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS played a key role in assessing how the different toothpaste formulations interacted with teeth and gum tissue. Using advanced techniques such as scanning electron microscopy and chemical analysis, researchers closely examined the products’ compatibility, safety, and overall performance.
As Andreas Kiesow, Group Manager Characterization of Medical and Cosmetic Care Products, explains: “Scanning electron microscopy, chemical characterization and quantitative measurements enable us to draw detailed conclusions about a substance’s compatibility and function. To put it simply: We ultimately find out whether the toothpaste works or not.”
Quality Standards and Ongoing Development
All evaluations were conducted in accordance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards, ensuring the findings comply with rigorous national and international quality requirements. “Compliance with GLP guidelines was a key element of the project. We didn’t just develop a good toothpaste with a new ingredient: we developed a high-quality oral care product of medical-grade standard,” says Schilling.
Research on the technology is still advancing. Beyond toothpaste, scientists and the PerioTrap Pharmaceuticals GmbH team have also created a gel designed for use after professional dental cleanings. The gel helps suppress harmful bacteria, supports a balanced oral microbiome, and promotes long-term gum health.
Additional products, including a mouthwash and other oral care formulations, are currently under development. Researchers also see potential applications in veterinary medicine, as gum disease in dogs and cats shares many of the same underlying bacterial causes found in humans.
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