3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM) decreased the Streptococcus mutans biofilm, a leading contributor to plaque and cavities, by 90%.
A significant portion of the global population experiences persistent issues with dental plaque and cavities or will face them at some time. While toothpaste, mouthwash, and routine dental visits help in prevention, there’s always room for improvement.
Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, in collaboration with teams from Sichuan University and the National University of Singapore, have identified that 3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM) – a naturally occurring molecule also referred to as bisindole – can reduce biofilms responsible for plaque and cavities by a remarkable 90%.
The molecule is also found to have anti-carcinogenic properties.
Their findings were recently published in the journal Antibiotics.
The point isn’t that it kills bacteria, it’s that it breaks down the biofilm.
The biofilm is basically habitat - it’s a structure they can cling to and establish a foothold.
Mouths are never going to be a sterile environment even a minute after nuking with alcohol; populations will re-establish in no time.
The point here is to deny them a place to stay.
That makes sense