Prevora Antibacterial Tooth Coating: How It Works

The bacteria on your teeth re-emerge quickly after you brush and floss, particularly in the cracks and crevices and at the gum line where it is often hard to brush. For example, the following picture shows a film of bacteria 48 hours after brushing. This bacterial film causes tooth decay.

A magnification of a bacterial film growing 48 hours after brushing.

Prevora works by releasing a common and safe antibacterial compound, chlorhexidine, on the tooth surface over a long period to minimize the bacterial film on your teeth. Prevora’s antibacterial action is shown in the following image where the bacteria are reduced by chlorhexidine.

Arrow shows breaking down of the bacteria 5 minutes after exposure to chlorhexidine.

Reprinted courtesy of Victov, L. et al, 2005.

Tooth decay is caused by a long-term bacterial infection of the teeth. While infections in other parts of the body tend to cause pain, you don’t usually feel a tooth infection until it has become a deep cavity. Infection often cannot be brushed or flossed away, and can be especially harmful at the roots.
Adults are at least as vulnerable to tooth decay as children. A number of factors cause our risk to increase as we age: first, our gums naturally recede from our teeth as we get older. Furthermore, gum disease can also expose tooth roots. Once they are exposed the roots are vulnerable to bacterial attack.
Another factor that can contribute to tooth decay is taking several prescription medications daily, which can cause dry mouth. Because the body uses saliva to protect the tooth surface from bacteria, a dry mouth from taking several drugs a day puts many older Canadians at risk for tooth decay.
Root decay can progress rapidly, and it is difficult for your dentist to repair. Fillings required because of root decay generally need to be replaced more often.
The new, clear, painless antibacterial coating contains chlorhexidine, an antimicrobial compound that kills bacteria on your teeth and prevents new bacteria from forming. Chlorhexidine has been used in medicine for many years, and it has been shown to be effective against root decay when it is applied directly to the tooth in the form of a coating, (with this coating, the chlorhexidine chemically bonds with the tooth surface to provide sustained-release antimicrobial action). Controlled clinical studies have shown that this coating’s antibacterial coating significantly reduced root decay.