The History of Silver as an Antibacterial Ingredient

Silver's antibacterial use dates back thousands of years. Ancient civilizations, including the Greeks and Romans, stored water in silver vessels to preserve it, because of its natural germicidal properties. During the bubonic plague in medieval Europe, wealthy families gave children silver spoons or had them suck on silver objects, believing it protected against infection - a practice that contributed to the phrase "born with a silver spoon in your mouth".

In the 1500s, Spanish surgeons were pioneers in sanitation by doing things such as washing their hands and sterilizing their instruments. They also used silver in procedures like trepanning (drilling into the skull to relieve pressure), where pure silver coins or tools helped reduce infections after surgery. These practices highlight silver's role in preventing sepsis, even before germ theory was established.

While this early technology had a limited understanding of silver's uses, modern science has discovered how various silver forms, (including Nano Silver and Coral’s SilverSol Formula), target bacteria differently than traditional agents.

How Other Antibacterials Kill Bacteria

Most antibacterial agents act aggressively on contact. Alcohol, for example, breaks down proteins and damages cell walls in an effort to kill all of the bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria that it kills include the ones that are essential to keeping your oral microbiome balanced.

As such, alcohol-based mouthwashes wipe out the oral microbiome, which includes millions of bacteria essential for health. Beneficial species take time to repopulate, potentially allowing pathogens to dominate if reintroduced first, which creates a reliance on repeated use.

One attempted solution was Triclosan. It was once common in oral products, but was soon found to inhibit bacterial fatty acid synthesis, which led to weakened cell walls over time. In 2016, the FDA banned triclosan in products like antibacterial soaps due to insufficient evidence of benefits and potential risks like hormone disruption. In toothpaste, its use has declined due to safety concerns, with most manufacturers shifting to alternatives like fluoride - a neurotoxin.

How Nano Silver Kills Bacteria

Replacing alcohol in mouthwash with nano silver yields markedly different outcomes than Triclosan ever could produce. Tiny silver particles, sized 1–100 nm, slip into biofilms without hurting your cells. They target only germs (which are bad bacteria).

• Silver ions stick to germ walls, mess up energy flow, and create harmful oxygen that breaks the walls. The germs leak and burst.
• Dead germs turn into "zombie cells" that soak up extra silver and pass it to live germs on contact, spreading the kill.

This lasts for hours and hits new germs. In skin use, leftover silver and bits are safe—they’re low-dose, non-toxic, and your body gets rid of them.

Is Nano Silver Safe?

Nano silver's safety for topical use is well-supported. Hundreds of studies from institutions like the NCBI confirm its efficacy and low toxicity in wound care, with no significant side effects at therapeutic doses. The FDA has cleared silver for topical medical devices but warns against colloidal silver ingestion due to risks like argyria (skin discoloration); no such clearance exists for oral ingestion

In dental applications, American Biotech Labs' study on nano silver toothpaste (used daily for two weeks) showed 87.5% of participants with improved oral health in the first week, including 80% plaque reduction and benefits for gingivitis. Broader reviews indicate 70% of users experience reduced inflammation, with 50% noting gum improvements, due to silver's anti-inflammatory effects alongside antibacterial action.

How Is Antibacterial Silver Used?

Silver is integral to modern medicine. It fortifies bandages, dressings, sutures, and ointments to prevent wound infections, promoting faster healing in burns, ulcers, and surgical sites. In oral care, nano silver combats bad breath, decay, and gum disease by disrupting biofilms.

Doesn’t All Toothpaste Kill Bacteria?

While most toothpastes kill bacteria, some kill the good bacteria that your mouth needs to operate. Toothpaste needs to remove bad bacteria exclusively, rather than killing all bacteria outright.

It’s true that there are alternatives. Many toothpastes contain antibacterials: fluoride kills bacteria by disrupting metabolism in order to reduce plaque/gingivitis by up to 51%. Triclosan was FDA-approved in some formulations but phased out due to regulatory scrutiny; alternatives like essential oils or zinc also provide antibacterial effects. However, Nano silver offers targeted pathogen elimination while preserving healthy biofilms, setting up your mouth for health and success.