Fig 5. A model showing the proposed biofilm destabilizing effects of short-term exposure (transient; minutes) and longer-term exposure (sustained; hours) to high millimolar (≥100mM) LAHCl concentrations in flowing saliva.

The model shows the effect of LAHCl on a well-developed multi-species biofilm (with respect to architecture and species composition) although similar destabilizing effects would occur on multi-species biofilms of younger or older developmental age. Cell shapes and sizes are not to scale. Postulated effects are based on data presented in this manuscript and on previous observations of the effects of L-arginine on bacterial cells and cell-cell interactions, as discussed in the body of the text.