Enzymes are small-but-mighty tools for doing stuff at the molecular level. They're catalysts! The presence of an enzyme can catalyze one (or several!) chemical reactions, like breaking down complex molecules or converting one compound into another.
Enzymes aren't alive. They aren't cells, they don't have DNA, and they certainly don't have cute cartoon faces like in our marketing materials. They are (almost always) proteins – little molecular widgets that interact with specific molecules to do stuff.
Enzymes are deeply involved with every aspect of human – and dog – life. We couldn't live without 'em! By identifying and cultivating specific enzymes and then packaging them for stability and long-lasting activity, Novozymes is able to use these enzymes in toothpaste.
What are the enzymes in Bright dental?
- Amyloglucosidase. We'll call it AMG from now on. This enzyme breaks down oligosaccharides in your dog's mouth, like complex sugars, and turns them into glucose, a very simple sugar. If this were the only enzyme, we'd be in trouble, but the best is yet to come.
- Glucose Oxidase. This enzyme turns glucose into hydrogen peroxide, a natural and safe cleaning agent. All of that sugar produced by AMG, plus the glucose that was already in their mouth from food and the enzymes in their saliva, gets converted into an effective and dog-safe cleaning agent.
- Lactoperoxidase. Oh man, this enzyme is crazy-useful. It's a powerful catalyst of reactions involving hydrogen peroxide in the body, and it's already produced by your dog's salivary glands. But we're adding a bunch more, which means that the GOX gets a huge boost to its breakdown of glucose. It also helps several other compounds that are already present in your dog's saliva as part of their immune system, like hypothiocyanite (a strong antibacterial agent that your dog's body already produces).