Oral microbiota and tooth mineral surfaces – non-specific ionic and surface interactions

Oral microbiota and tooth mineral surfaces – non-specific ionic and surface interactions refers to the physicochemical forces, such as van der Waals and electrostatic forces, that govern the initial, reversible attachment of bacteria to the tooth surface (Marsh, 2004). This interaction occurs between the microbial cell wall and the acquired enamel pellicle, a thin layer of adsorbed salivary proteins and glycoproteins on the hydroxyapatite surface (Busscher & van der Mei, 1997). These non-specific interactions are the precursor to specific adhesin-receptor bindings and are fundamental to the formation of dental plaque, a complex biofilm (Conrads, 2018). In the context of disease, these interactions facilitate the colonization of acidogenic bacteria like Streptococcus mutans, leading to dental caries and periodontal inflammation (NIH, 2021). Therapeutic agents such as fluoride and chlorhexidine interact with this system by modifying the surface charge of the enamel or disrupting the bacterial cell membrane to prevent stable adhesion (StatPearls, 2023). Furthermore, surfactants in dentifrices can lower surface tension to inhibit bacterial accumulation. Understanding these interactions is essential for developing preventative oral health care products that inhibit pathogenic biofilm accumulation without disrupting the healthy oral microbiome. The balance of these forces is often described by the DLVO theory, which accounts for the total interaction energy between the surfaces.

Other names

Dental biofilm-hydroxyapatite interfaceBacterial adhesion to tooth surfacesPhysicochemical interactions in oral biofilm formationDLVO interactions in the oral cavityAcquired pellicle-microbe interface

Modification of surface charge, inhibition of bacterial adhesion, and reduction of enamel solubility.