COPENHAGEN, Denmark: A number of recent studies have shown that dental calculus from archaeological samples could be a rich source for better understanding the dental health of our ancestors. Similarly, a new study of the calculus of remains buried in a Danish cemetery has shed light on the oral microbiomes of certain groups of medieval humans in the area.
A team from the University of Copenhagen led the study and sampled calculus from the remains of 21 humans buried circa 1100–1450 CE in the medieval cemetery of the village Tjærby, Denmark. A total of 3,671 proteins from 220 different protein groups were identified from the calculus, with approximately 85 to 95 per cent produced by bacteria from the oral microbiome.
Although all of the studied samples showed traces of bacteria associated with periodontal disease and dental caries, the team was able to divide the samples into two groups: one that was health-predisposed and the other more susceptible to oral disease. In the former group, there was just one case of periodontitis, whereas seven members of the latter group displayed signs of severe tooth decay. Since the two groups were more than likely to have had similar diets and oral health habits, the difference in oral health outcomes is likely to be attributed to differences in proteins, such as Streptococcus sanguinis, a relatively harmless bacteria that was far more prevalent in the former group’s oral microbiomes.
Despite these differences, the calculus samples that were used were found to be far more heterogeneous than samples gathered from modern Danish individuals. The study’s authors argued that the increased diversity of modern diets, combined with environmental and lifestyle factors, genetics, hygiene practices and different personal histories of antibiotics use were likely to be the main causes of the variety in modern oral microbiomes.
The study, titled “Quantitative metaproteomics of medieval dental calculus reveals individual oral health status”, was published online in Nature Communications on 20 November 2018.
Tags:
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Canada: Dental caries represents one of the most common chronic diseases in young children and is a multifactorial disease. ...
ISTANBUL, Turkey: Prof. Gerry McKenna is a faculty member in the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast, ...
ANTWERP, Belgium: Research has found conflicting results regarding whether the popular bactericidal mouthwash LISTERINE promotes or undermines a healthy ...
COPENHAGEN, Denmark: Though its popularity and constituent ingredients have changed over time, chewing gum has been used by humans for thousands of years. A...
FARMINGTON, Conn., U.S.: Numerous studies have established that oral health can play a significant role in systemic health. A new review study has found ...
PROVO, Utah, U.S.: Researchers from Brigham Young University (BYU) in the U.S. have found that students are more engaged in course material and learning ...
LONDON, England: The inextricable relationship between a person’s oral and overall health has the potential to radically transform the dental industry and...
BRISBANE, Australia: There is much debate of the pros and cons of breast- and bottle-feeding. A research team from the Queensland University of Technology ...
SOLNA, Sweden: The oral cavity represents a complex microenvironment where a diverse microbial community flourishes. A recent review study, carried out by ...
SAN FRANCISCO, US: Physical intimate partner violence (IPV) can be especially detrimental during pregnancy and is a significant public health issue, having ...
Live webinar
Wed. 19 February 2025
1:00 pm EST (New York)
Live webinar
Wed. 19 February 2025
1:00 pm EST (New York)
Live webinar
Wed. 19 February 2025
2:00 pm EST (New York)
Live webinar
Thu. 20 February 2025
12:00 pm EST (New York)
Dr. Jochen Tunkel CODE expert
Live webinar
Tue. 25 February 2025
11:00 am EST (New York)
Live webinar
Wed. 26 February 2025
1:00 pm EST (New York)
Live webinar
Thu. 27 February 2025
12:00 pm EST (New York)
To post a reply please login or register