Dt. Özsarı emphasized that the caries vaccine is a “revolutionary step” in the field of dental health and explained that this vaccine targets Streptococcus mutans bacteria, which forms plaque on the tooth surface and damages tooth enamel. These new vaccines, developed with nasal spray or sublingual applications, aim to protect teeth from caries by increasing the immune response in the oral mucosa.
Drawing attention to the independent academic publication platform Frontiers, where details of scientific studies are shared, Özsarı stated that the vaccine has shown high success in experiments on rodents and monkeys. If similar results are obtained in human trials, it is predicted that a permanent solution to the problem of caries could be offered.
Effect and Reliability of the Vaccine
“Vaccines not only prevent the formation of caries, but can also prevent the spread of bacteria in the body that can lead to systemic health problems such as heart disease and diabetes,” Özsarı said, adding that nanoparticle-based DNA vaccines reduce caries formation by 60-70 percent. These vaccines, which have a low side effect profile, are effective against bacteria that threaten oral health and have the capacity to reduce the risk of systemic infection.
Application Period: 5 to 10 Years
The success of the tooth decay vaccine means a breakthrough in dental health. “According to research, it will take several more years of human testing before the vaccine becomes globally applicable. If successful, we could enter a new era where tooth decay could be largely prevented in the next 5 to 10 years,” Özsarı said. These promising developments could herald fundamental changes in oral health in the future.
