This is an article NPR picked up from Nature Genetics. After scientists looked at the skulls from cavemen, they’ve concluded that they had pretty good teeth. So much so that it appears they didn’t have the oral hygiene issues that we have today. Even with our toothpaste, floss, mouth wash and fluoride filled water. Eating more meat, nuts and vegetables seems to keep our teeth cleaner, and the proper bacteria in our mouths.
After the introduction of grains and sugar, the bad bacteria had a good source of nutrients which caused us to get cavities. We all know sugar is bad for our teeth, and we brush our teeth twice daily and floss, but those bad bacteria have roughly 12 hrs between brushings to grow and make pretty little holes in our enamel.
The idea is similar to that of the proper balance of bacteria in our digestive tract. The proper bacteria are healthy, and an imbalance towards too many “bad” bacteria may be one of the causes of our increase in chronic diseases. Most people don’t think of cavities as a disease, but it does seem to prove that there is an imbalance of bacteria in our mouths.
What did you eat since the last time you brushed your teeth? Think the bacteria like it as much as you did?