An unexpected way to prevent tooth decay has been found

Interfering with the chemical "communication system" of bacteria in the mouth can shift the composition of dental plaque toward a healthier one and prevent the development of cavities. This conclusion was reached by scientists from the University of Minnesota. The research results were published in the journal NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes.

According to scientists, bacteria in the oral cavity do not exist in isolation: they exchange signaling molecules through a mechanism known as quorum sensing. These chemical signals allow microbes to coordinate behavior, regulate gene activity, and determine which species will dominate the bacterial community. This balance largely determines whether the microbiota will remain in a "healthy" state or shift toward cavities and gum diseases.

The researchers studied laboratory models of dental plaque and focused on the signaling molecules N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHL), which some bacteria use. It turned out that special enzymes can block these signals and thereby "jam" bacterial communication.

Such interference reduced the activity of microbes associated with gum inflammation, and simultaneously promoted the growth of bacteria characteristic of a healthy oral cavity.

As the authors explain, the formation of dental plaque resembles the development of an ecosystem. Initially, the surface is colonized by relatively harmless bacteria, and then, under unfavorable conditions, more aggressive species appear, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, closely associated with periodontitis.

"By disrupting the chemical signals that bacteria use to communicate, we can guide the dental plaque community toward a state associated with oral health," notes the study author, biochemist Michael Elias.