A new study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology has found that the mucus in saliva can protect teeth from cavities. This new study came to fruition through author Erica Shapiro Frenkel of Harvard University and principal investigator Katharina Ribbeck, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The pair has brought to focus that mucus is the heavy lifter in saliva, despite only making up 0.5 percent. This mucus contains salivary mucins, which are compounds with the sole action of protecting teeth from Steptococcus mutans (S. mutans)—cavity-causing bacteria damage.
The research showed that although salivary mucins do not destroy bacteria, they instead hold it in a suspended liquid medium that prevents the S. mutans from forming biofilms and causing cavities on teeth. The mucins also preserve the oral microboime and assist in maintaining a healthy microbial environment.
This discovery is currently changing the view that scientists have on host-microbe interactions: "It is generating a paradigm shift from the textbook view of mucus as a simple catchall filter for particles, towards the understanding that mucus is a sophisticated bioactive material with powerful abilities to manipulate microbial behavior."
The study further demonstrates that placing a stronger need on boosting the body’s natural defenses can be a more accurate, not to mention healthy, way to protect teeth rather than going the external route such as with sealants and fluoride treatments. It’s another progressive step into learning just what our bodies are capable of.
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