Scientists at the University of Minnesota have identified a novel method to control gum disease by interrupting communication among bacteria inside the mouth. The study shows that bacteria in dental plaque use chemical signals to regulate their growth rates, and blocking this communication reduces harmful bacteria. Co-author Associate Professor Mikel Elias stated that the enzyme ‘lactonase’ can inhibit bacterial communication, thereby maintaining oral health. (April 8, Kathmandu)
Instead of killing the bacteria residing in our mouths, the researchers have found an innovative approach that disrupts the bacterial ‘communication’ to control gum disease. In this new study conducted by University of Minnesota researchers, it was demonstrated that bacteria within dental plaque balance their growth rates through chemical signaling. When these chemical signals are blocked, the population of disease-causing bacteria decreases, while health-promoting bacteria increase.
Previously, antibiotics or antiseptics would kill both harmful and beneficial bacteria. However, this new method allows treatment while preserving the healthy oral microbiome. Approximately 700 species of bacteria live in the mouth, communicating through a process called ‘quorum sensing.’ The researchers discovered that bacterial communication differs between the oxygen-rich upper gum area and the oxygen-poor inner gum area.
In oxygenated regions, blocking bacterial communication led to an increase in beneficial bacteria, whereas in oxygen-deprived areas, communication among bacteria activated those causing diseases. According to senior author and Associate Professor Mikel Elias, dental plaque develops like an ecological jungle. Initial bacteria colonizers are harmless, but later-arriving bacteria—called the ‘red complex’—cause severe gum disease. Their communication can be disrupted with the enzyme ‘lactonase,’ which helps prevent oral health deterioration. This discovery may not only revolutionize dental care but also transform infection treatments in other parts of the body. Since bacterial imbalances in the body can trigger diseases such as cancer, scientists consider controlling bacterial behavior to restore a healthy state, rather than destroying bacteria, as an effective strategy.
