Acid formation in the saliva is due to anaerobic splitting of carbohydrates by enzymes.1 2 Various enzyme inhibitors have been suggested in this connection, among which fluoride,3-5 urea,6 and soluble oxalates are known to be effective.As long ago as 1942, Fosdick8 drew attention to the inhibitory effect of synthetic vitamin K (2-methyl-1,4-naphthaquinone). Because vitamin K is a quinone, other quinones and their derivatives were investigated, none of which, however, displayed the same effect as vitamin K. On the other hand, various peroxides showed some activity.9In 1946, Kesel, O'Donnell, Kirch, and Wach'0 reported growth inhibition of lactobacilli by ammonia. They suggested that ammonia might possibly be formed in the saliva by urea and amino acids. Ammonium diphosphate and urea produce ammonium nitrite in the saliva; this ammonium nitriate inhibits both acid formation and bacterial growth. It was also thought possible that various free amino acids occur in the saliva, which might act as enzyme inhibitors.Fosdick" has tested 17 such amino acids. He evaluated the inhibition of acid formation by measuring the calcium content of human saliva after incubation with powdered enamel, sugar, and the test substance. The most active were norleucine and valine, which exerted an inhibiting effect in a concentration of 40 mg. per cent and threonine in a concentration of 20 mg. per cent. But it is doubtful whether these amino acids are present in saliva.In 1947, Fosdick'2 investigated 31 additional substances (peroxides, quinones, guanidines, aldehydes). All these substances, with the exception of the guanidines, were found to be capable of inhibiting glycolysis. Of the aldehydes tested, glycerinaldehyde in particular proved an effective glycolysis inhibitor. This latter group of compounds is relatively non-toxic and hence most promising.These studies show that inhibition of glycolysis is possible and that there are many compounds suitable for this purpose. However, the problem of concentration and toxicity and the fact that the substance in question should adhere to the tartar considerably reduce the number of possibilities.In an extensive study, Fosdick13 tested 381 compounds and determined their minimum effective concentration. Half of all the compounds investigated exerted an inhibitory effect in a concentration of 50 mg. per cent. Most antibiotics and antiseptics were active in lower concentrations, the lowest amounting to 5 mg. per cent. The two most effective substances tested were sodium-N-lauroyl sarcosinate and sodium dehydroacetate, which are already under clinical trial.
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