Chewing Gum Test Detects Bacteria
Patients in the future may benefit from a quick and affordable method using a chewing gum-based diagnostic test to assess if they carry the bacteria that causes inflammatory responses in dental implants.
In practice, the diagnostic test works as follows: If there is an inflammation in the oral cavity, a bittering agent is released while chewing the gum. A bittering agent is a substance added to the gum which has an exremely bitter taste or smell. Patients can then visit their dentist who will confirm the diagnosis and treat the disease. This type of early detection aims at preventing serious complications such as bone loss.
“Anyone can use this new diagnostic tool anywhere and anytime without any technical equipment.” Lorenz Meinel, PhD, head of the JUM Chair for Drug Formulation and Delivery
Researchers hope to be able to diagnose other diseases with the ‘anyone, anywhere, anytime’ diagnostics to identify and address diseases as early as possible.
Researchers also believe it will take two to three years until the gum is commercially available. Chewing gum rapid tests for other medical applications are currently under development.
For more information on this study read the article in Nature Communication.
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