An amazing method for fighting cavities has been discovered

Scientists have learned to "block communication" between bacteria in the mouth, preventing tooth decay and gum disease

Researchers from the University of Minnesota have made a breakthrough in dentistry, discovering a way to manipulate the "communication system" of bacteria in the oral cavity. The results of this promising research were published in the prestigious scientific journal NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes.

Scientists have established that bacteria in the mouth form a complex community in which there is a constant exchange of signaling molecules through a quorum-sensing mechanism. This invisible chemical communication plays a crucial role in determining which microbes will dominate dental plaque, which directly affects oral health.

During laboratory experiments, the researchers studied special signaling molecules - N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHL), used by certain bacteria for "communication". An important discovery was the ability of special enzymes to block these signals, effectively disrupting bacterial communication.

The results were impressive: when signals were blocked, the activity of harmful bacteria that cause gum inflammation was significantly reduced, while beneficial microorganisms characteristic of a healthy oral cavity began to actively multiply.

Specialists compare the formation of dental plaque with the development of a natural ecosystem. The surface of the teeth is first colonized by relatively harmless microorganisms, but under unfavorable conditions, they are replaced by aggressive species, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, a known causative agent of periodontitis.

"By disrupting the chemical signals that bacteria use to communicate, we can direct the dental plaque community toward a state associated with oral health," explains biochemist Michael Elias, one of the study's authors.