Prospects of Using Gum Arabic Silver Nanoparticles in Toothpaste to Prevent Dental Caries

Gum Arabic: A Commodity with Versatile Formulations and Applications

Gum Arabic (GA), or acacia gum, refers to the dried exudate produced by certain Acacia trees. GA is composed mainly of a mixture of polysaccharides and glycoproteins, with proportions that can slightly differ from one species to another. It is commonly utilized in the food and pharmaceutical industries as a stabilizer or an emulsifier owing to its biocompatibility, hydrophilicity, and antibacterial properties. In addition, GA can be manipulated as it possesses many functional groups that can be used in grafting, cross-linking, or chemical modifications to add a new feature to the developed material. In this review, we highlight recent GA-based formulations, including nanoparticles, hydrogels, nanofibers, membranes, or scaffolds, and their possible applications in tissue regeneration, cancer therapy, wound healing, biosensing, bioimaging, food packaging, and antimicrobial and antifouling membranes.

Synthesis and Application of Silver Nanoparticles for Caries Management: A Review

Silver nanoparticles have unique physical, chemical, and biological properties that make them attractive for medical applications. They have gained attention in dentistry for their potential use in caries management. This study reviews the different synthesis methods of silver nanoparticles and the application of them for caries management. Silver nanoparticles are tiny silver and are typically less than 100 nanometres in size. They have a high surface area-to-volume ratio, making them highly reactive and allowing them to interact with bacteria and other materials at the molecular level. Silver nanoparticles have low toxicity and biocompatibility. Researchers have employed various methods to synthesise silver nanoparticles, including chemical, physical, and biological methods. By controlling the process, silver nanoparticles have defined sizes, shapes, and surface properties for wide use. Silver nanoparticles exhibit strong antibacterial properties, capable of inhibiting a broad range of bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains. They inhibit the growth of cariogenic bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans. They can disrupt bacterial cell membranes, interfere with enzyme activity, and inhibit bacterial replication. Silver nanoparticles can inhibit biofilm formation, reducing the risk of caries development. Additionally, nano silver fluoride prevents dental caries by promoting tooth remineralisation. They can interact with the tooth structure and enhance the deposition of hydroxyapatite, aiding in repairing early-stage carious lesions. Silver nanoparticles can also be incorporated into dental restorative materials such as composite resins and glass ionomer cements. The incorporation can enhance the material's antibacterial properties, reducing the risk of secondary caries and improving the longevity of the restoration.

Nanotechnology in toothpaste: Fundamentals, trends, and safety

Several studies have revealed that healthcare nanomaterials are widely used in numerous areas of dentistry, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and repair. Nanomaterials in dental cosmetics are utilized to enhance the efficacy of toothpaste and other mouthwashes. Nanoparticles are added to toothpastes for a variety of reasons, including dental decay prevention, remineralization, hypersensitivity reduction, brightening, and antibacterial qualities. In this review, the benefits and uses of many common nanomaterials found in toothpaste are outlined. Additionally, the capacity and clinical applications of nanoparticles as anti-bacterial, whitening, hypersensitivity, and remineralizing agents in the treatment of dental problems and periodontitis are discussed.