Discovery of New Bacterial Species Linked to Tooth Decay

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and the Adams School of Dentistry and Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina have discovered that a bacterial species called Selenomonas sputigena can have a major role in causing tooth decay. The study showed that S. sputigena, previously associated only with gum disease, can work as a key partner of Streptococcus mutans, greatly enhancing its cavity-making power. Disrupting these protective S. sputigena superstructures using specific enzymes or more precise and effective methods of tooth-brushing could be one approach to prevent cavities.