Different Oral Bacteria Have Recently Been Identified: This Is What They Do
So absolutely disgusting and so incredibly fascinating at exactly the same time.
One of the most scientifically significant letters even written to London’s Royal Society was penned by Leeuwenhoek on September 17, 1683 about this very subject, and possibly even more stomach-turning. In it, colleagues were informed of his discovery of bacteria from the scrapings between his teeth “a little white matter, which is as thick as if ’twere batter.” He noted that, “The biggest sort. . . bent their body into curves in going forwards …”
It was highly structured organisation at its itsy bitsy, teenie weenie barf-inducing best.
We haven’t stopped looking, and discovering what bacteria do for almost 350 years. It certainly is the gift that keeps on giving.
Science now tells us the direct influence oral microbiome has on organ and vascular health.
Microbiome is defined as the collection of microbes – being bacteria, viruses, and single-cell eukaryotes – that inhabit the human body. Its study is to determine the aggregate of all microbiota that reside on, and within human tissue and biofluids, and corresponding anatomical sites.
Its role is critical in both oral and systemic disease; making oral microbiome an extraordinary and expanding field of research. There is much development, and many breakthroughs. Identifying consistent patterns, and accumulating concrete data that further identifies various biomarkers, enables the targeting and personalising of therapies and medications as the ultimate in disease management.
Microbiome throughout the mouth is within biofilms. It forms an ecosystem that either maintains equilibrium and therefore good health; or creates imbalances that allow certain pathogens to manifest and precipitate illness and disease.
Disruption of the oral microbiome leads to dysbiosis: the combined reduction in microbial diversity and loss of beneficial bacteria. Understanding function and metabolism in diseased states is the purpose of human microbiome research.
Identifying the microbiome in health is the first step in human microbiome research; and the proven relationship between oral and general health has long been established. Diabetes for example, is linked with the development and progression of periodontitis, and vice versa. Gum disease has an accepted causal link with heart disease. To not acknowledge the relationship between sugar consumption, obesity, diabetes and the proliferation of cavity-causing bacteria is to live in undisturbed solitude between a gritty floor and gravel roof.
Oral diseases are a major health burden for many because of the way they affect an entire lifetime. Making inroads into identifying preventative measures and improved treatments extends far beyond the obvious advantages of having better dental health.
Of the hundreds and hundreds of different bacteria commonly found in the mouth, 13 species were shown to either raise or lower risk of HNSCC. Some of these pathogens were already previously known to contribute to periodontal disease; severe cases of which permanently damage the soft tissue that surrounds and anchors the teeth, as well as dissolving jawbone.
While earlier, less extensive research results linked some of these bacteria to cancers of the head and neck, the precise bacteria species had remained unknown until now.
The team tracked almost 160,000 citizens across the US to more meticulously understand the role converging aspects like genetics, medical history, lifestyle, diet and other facets of living play in creating cancer. Factors well known to strongly influencing risk – such as age, and tobacco and alcohol use – were taken into account.
Initially, study participants provided saliva samples after using a mouthwash that preserved the numbers and species of microbes for testing. Follow-up spanned almost 15 years to establish any presence of tumours.
Researchers analysed not just bacterial, but also fungal DNA from the specimens. The first to examine whether common fungi like mould and yeast along might have some part in HNSCC found no such evidence.
The 236 patients subsequently diagnosed with HNSCC had their oral microbes compared with those of 458 randomly selected study subjects who had remained cancer-free.
It’s this method that identified key bacteria.
Future study for the team is to explore the processes and mechanisms that encourage colonisation, and how to swiftly and usefully intervene.
Just as good oral health is beneficial beyond a lovely smile and pleasant breath, good oral hygiene practices and 6-monthly dental appointments not only help protect against periodontal disease, but head and neck cancer as well.
Van Leeuwenhoek would be even more astonished by his “living animalcules” knowing the ongoing contribution they have made to understanding, deciphering and improving human health.
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