What about the good bacteria?
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 16th April 2021
So often when we talk about bacteria it’s in terms of the bad strains that cause illness. Indeed, these microorganisms are often lumped with viruses and other nasties that are responsible for a great number of the health conditions we face, and in dentistry, it’s usually the bacteria behind plaque formation that come under scrutiny.
But what about good bacteria? It’s easy to forget that bacteria are a very complex life form, and that many strains are actually very helpful instead of harmful. Indeed, in our quest to prevent tooth decay and other issues that have a direct impact on oral health, it seems that bacteria do have the potential to be as much ally as menace.
I was recently reading through some of the latest scientific articles when I came across one detailing how a certain strain of bacteria could offer salvation for those suffering from diabetes.[i]
In this article, researchers revealed their belief that application of a certain gut bacteria may be the key to effectively managing type 2 diabetes. Their research, which argues that certain types of bacteria in the gut may be pivotal to the formation of the disease, split these bacteria into two categories – “improvers” and “worseners”. As the names suggest, the “worseners” exacerbated the problems with insulin absorption in the gut when tested on mice, while the “improver” bacteria had the opposite effect, suggesting potential therapeutic use.
Diabetes has a direct link to higher incidences of tooth decay due to its effects on blood sugar and salivary flow.[ii] It is thought that there are now 4.7 million people living with diabetes in the UK, and with our western diet being high in sugars and saturated fats, it’s likely that this number will continue to increase.[iii] This breakthrough on the behaviour of bacteria does offer a beacon of hope and suggest that supporting good bacteria may help overcome certain aspects of diabetes, which in turn will help lessen its impact on oral health as blood sugars will remain more stable.
Unfortunately, we won’t know the full scope of benefits that this type of bacteria can have, or indeed, whether there are any at all in human tests until there has been further research. However, it does show that bacteria could possibly be useful allies.
A similar discovery was the potential use of probiotics in dentistry and what this could mean for oral health. Probiotics, by definition, are the introduction of good bacteria in order to help support better health. Researchers at the University of Florida had discovered a certain strain of bacteria in the healthy mouth of a child that could potentially be used to help deter the formation of caries.[iv]
Again, much like the treatment for diabetes, this research is still in early days, but the implications of something like this are extraordinary. If this bacteria could be synthesised into a product and that product proved to be effective, it could revolutionise the oral health routines of millions and even offer a key push in our favour against the fight against tooth decay, especially in children.
There is an argument to be made that the oral microbiome is already perfect for exploiting in order to provide a solution against decay. In a way, we already do this by eliminating plaque bacteria through brushing, flossing and using mouthwash. However, what makes these breakthroughs in understanding certain strains of bacteria so exciting is that they could help to achieve this balance much more easily.
In the end, the complex nature of bacteria and the individuality of each person’s oral microbiome are factors that will definitely impact the efficacy of these solutions, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t an interesting prospect. There is so much still to learn about bacteria and the way that these complex microorganisms interact with one another and our bodies, but that should give us hope that there will be breakthroughs that can help make our quest to prevent tooth decay and other oral conditions all the more simple.
Until then, we need to do our bit to explain to patients about bacteria and how certain strains are behind tooth decay. By sharing this knowledge, we can help them understand the importance of achieving a balance through good oral health routines.
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EndoCare, led by Dr Michael Sultan, is one of the UK’s most trusted Specialist Endodontist practices. Through the use of the latest technologies and techniques, the highly-trained team can offer exceptional standards of care – always putting the patient first. What’s more, EndoCare is a dependable referral centre, to which dentists from across the country send their patients for the best in specialist endodontic treatment.
[i] Medical News Today. Meet The Bacteria That Might Help Treat Diabetes. Link: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/meet-the-bacteria-that-might-help-treat-diabetes [Last accessed January 21].
[ii] Diabetes.co.uk. Tooth Decay. Link: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-complications/tooth-decay.html [Last accessed January 21].
[iii] Diabetes.org. Number of Perople With Diabetes Reaches 4.7 Million. Link: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/new-stats-people-living-with-diabetes [Last accessed January 21].
[iv] Science News For Students. Newly Discovered Microbe Keeps Teeth Healthy. Link: https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/newly-discovered-microbe-keeps-teeth-healthy [Last accessed January 21].
