口香糖含有破坏牙腐蚀的有害菌的有益菌，这些口香糖在商店里有卖，Marina Murphy in C&I.报道说。口香糖是德国化学公司BASF利用存在在活的保加利亚酸乳的乳酸菌生产的产品之一。
BASF发现了一株新的乳酸菌菌株L.anti-caries，这个菌株与引起牙齿腐败的Strepptococcus mutans结合，S.mutans依附在牙齿的表面，产生损坏牙釉质的一种酸。口香糖产生的有益菌使S.mutans凝块在一起，阻止其黏附在牙齿的表面。实验揭示，口香糖可以使嘴里细菌减少50倍。
BASF研究的执行经理Stefan Marcinowski说，乳酸菌的产品将是2007年超级市场受欢迎的产品，但是不是口香糖还不确定。Marcinowski说，经过很多人的实验证明，口香糖具有大量降低细菌的能力。在很多新产品的牙膏和漱口液生产过程中也使用L.anti-caries。
口香糖含有人工甜味剂木糖醇，他具有抗菌剂的特性，他也能抑制细菌生产以免牙齿腐烂。
乳酸菌的另一个用处就是阻止狐臭的气味。BASF正在研究使用L.aladoris生产一种除臭剂，他能抑制腋窝里产生气味的细菌。同样地，另外一个菌株L.alaodoris可以减低脚上气味的饿形成。
英文原文：
BASF creates personal care products using live bacteria
The company says the ingredient could be used for a variety of personal care application, including tooth-friendly oral care, skin care and deodorant products, some of which could be on retailer shelves by 2007.
Developers at BASF Future Business, in collaboration with German Biotech Organo Balance have developed the range even though in most markets products containing so-called bacteria are not able to make health claims, they are best known for their probiotic properties associated with gut and immune health.
The two companies have been working together since 2002. While OrganoBalance is responsible for screening for suitable microorganism cultures from its extensive collection, BASF ferments them and carries out further processing and formulation and marketing in accordance with customers' requirements.
They are jointly commercialising the resulting products, and BASF project leader Dr Andreas Reindl said: “Negotiations are currently in progress with various manufacturers.”
Details of which of the dental health candidates will be commercialised first are yet to be disclosed.
The dental health action is attributed to a Lactobacillus strain discovered by BASF, dubbed L anti-caries. It is said to bind to Strepptococcus mutans, the bacteria that causes tooth decay by sticking to the surface of the teeth and producing an acid that erodes enamel.
“With L anti-caries we have found an antagonist which effectively binds to the caries germs and prevents them adhering to the surface of the teeth,” said Reidl.
The team researching the potential of the chewing gum has reported finding that it can reduce the amount of S mutans bacteria in the mouth by as much as fifty times.
In the personal care sector, BASF is also investigating potential uses for Lactobacillus in deodorant products. The L ala-odoris strain has shown promise in inhibiting bacteria that cause armpit odour, and L pes-odoris in foot odour.
The companies say that there could also be potential for Lactobacillus strains in face and body creams, medicinal ointments and plasters; just like the gut, the surface of the skin is host to a delicate balance of good and bad bacteria. It this balance is disrupted, it can affect the appearance and health of the skin.
In this case, OrganoBalance found that L stimulans can speed the regeneration of protective microbial flora.
It took some time for consumers to be convinced of the rationale behind consuming bacteria in the form of probiotic drinks and yoghurts. But now the foundations have been laid, it is unlikely that the same levels of education will be required for the gum and personal care markets.
It is also not the first time that an anti-caries gum has been introduced to market. Evidence has indicated that gum containing Danisco's artificial sweetener xylitol can also fight tooth decay.
