Do you also get hives, itching, and sometimes difficulty breathing after eating peanuts? Or do you know someone who suffers from this type of peanut allergy? Then you probably know how much fear you have when eating food from a store or going to a party. You are always afraid of what will happen if there is even a little peanut in the food you eat. However, today we are talking about a new and very amazing treatment that brings new hope to this fear. That is a toothpaste that brushes your teeth!
What is this new 'prescription toothpaste'?
This is not a toothpaste we usually use. This is a special medicinal toothpaste that is currently in the research stage. The name for this is `INT301`.
Simply put, this works on the concept of 'oral immunotherapy' . Imagine that an allergy occurs when our body overreacts to something (in this case, peanuts). In this treatment, we start with very small amounts of the thing we are allergic to, namely the peanut protein, and gradually accustom the body to it. Over time, the body becomes less sensitive to it, that is, it gets used to it. We call this 'desensitization' .
So why toothpaste? The cells inside our mouth, under the tongue, and in the cheeks (oral mucosa) are very important places to reduce sensitivity to allergens. When using this toothpaste, this medicine is well distributed everywhere, easily absorbed by the body, and trains the immune system .
How was this test done and what were the results?
This new toothpaste was recently tested in a study called OMEGA, which involved 32 adults aged 18-55 with peanut allergies.
These people were randomly divided into two groups.
- For the first group: This special toothpaste containing peanut protein was given in gradually increasing doses.
- The second group: was given a toothpaste that looked the same, but didn't contain any medicine. We call this a 'placebo' .
Most importantly, neither the doctor giving the medicine nor the person taking the medicine knows whether they are receiving the real medicine or the placebo. This reduces the possibility of bias in the results of the trial.
The results of the test are very positive.
| Section inspected | The result received |
|---|---|
| Safety | This treatment was found to be very safe. No moderate or severe side effects were reported. |
| Main side effect | There was only a slight itching inside the mouth, which was easily controlled with antihistamines. |
| Impact on teeth? | There was no damage or problem with the teeth or oral health. |
| Tolerating medication dosage | Everyone in the treatment group was able to tolerate the highest dose without any problems. |
| Effectiveness | Although this was primarily a safety study, blood tests showed early signs of desensitization to peanut proteins. |
Why is this method so important?
The main advice doctors give to someone with a peanut allergy is to "abstain from peanuts completely." This is something that should be done for life. It is also advised to always carry an epinephrine injection in case of a severe allergic reaction, anaphylaxis , if peanuts are ingested, even if it is accidental.
There are other 'oral immunotherapy' methods, but they are a bit more complicated. They take time, and they can sometimes be difficult to follow exactly.
Most importantly, no one in the toothpaste trial had a severe allergic reaction, or anaphylaxis . Doctors see this as a very positive sign.
Just think, brushing our teeth every morning and night is part of our lives. How easy would it be if we could do this treatment at the same time as brushing our teeth? This would be a great convenience and hope for people and families with busy lives.
So, when can we get this?
We must remember that this is still in the research stage. This initial study focused on its safety. Larger studies are planned to find out exactly how effective it is and how long it should be used. Therefore, it will be some time before this toothpaste reaches the market. However, it has the potential to bring great relief to the millions of people suffering from peanut allergies in the future.
Take-Home Message
- Research is currently underway on a special toothpaste (INT301) as a treatment for peanut allergy .
- This is a method of 'oral immunotherapy', which means gradually accustoming the body to the allergen.
- Initial tests have shown that it is very safe and has no serious side effects. Only mild mouth irritation has been reported.
- This could be a much easier way to incorporate into daily life than existing treatments (dietary avoidance, other immunosuppressive treatments).
- This is still in the research stage. It will take a while before it reaches the market. Never try anything like this without consulting your doctor. If you or your child has an allergy, talk to your doctor about it and get the right treatment.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 🤒 When should you be concerned about a rash?
If you have difficulty breathing, swelling of your lips or face, or feel dizzy after ingesting a poison ivy rash, it could be a severe allergy. In such cases, you should go to the hospital without delay. Most of the time, these types of poison ivy rashes are caused by foods.
💬 🥜 Is it dangerous if I get a rash after eating something like peanuts?
Yes, peanut allergy can be serious. Rashes can be one of the first symptoms. For these people, even a small piece of peanut can be a serious threat, so it's worth learning about the newly discovered oral immunotherapy.
💬 🪥 What is the latest treatment for acne (rash) that is being used while brushing your teeth?
This is not actually done for every peanut allergy sufferer, but for those with peanut allergies. What happens here is that the body is gradually introduced to peanut protein through a special toothpaste used when brushing your teeth daily. Read more about this in our article.
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