Dentist drills face competition

LONDON, July 22 (UPI) -- British scientists said they're developing ways to repair cavities without a dentist drill and remove plaque without a toothbrush.

Leeds Dental Institute said it has created a mouthwash that kills plaque-causing bacteria and could be available in as little as three years, and a protein that repairs cavities is about five years from being ready for market, the Telegraph newspaper said Monday.

The cavity-repairing protein, which can be painted on teeth that have tiny holes, will attract minerals to form new enamel, while the mouthwash contains a molecule that can destroy bacteria from within when it is activated by a bright light, the researchers said.