4 ms·

Immune cells may play a role in causing cavities

70 points by sahin-boydas 8y ago

baq 8y ago
i've got a kid that's allergic to certain foods and has lots of cavities even though he eats the same things and cares for his teeth the same way his brother, who isn't allergic, does. with my sample size of 1 i can confirm this study
- SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
  As an alternative sample size of one, I spent my entire childhood sniffle and stuffed up and I've had a total of 1 cavity in my mid-30 years. My sibling, who had no allergies, also suffered no cavities.
  - theprotocol 8y ago
    To add another n=1, I have severe allergies, not quite life threatening but almost (partial but significant throat constriction upon exposure), and I've never had a cavity and seem almost incapable of getting one. I only brush one time, at night, and don't use toothpaste (couldn't find one I wasn't mildly sensitive to). It is established that immune cells are modulated by microbiota - and yes, there are oral microbiota, and there are even oral probiotic supplements one can take which seem to be effective for certain conditions. If you are interested in this topic, I'd recommend paying close attention to how the 2 main strains were discovered (S. Salivarius K12 and M18) - iirc. at least one of the two was first extracted from a child who had no cavities.
  - aswanson 8y ago
    Extending the study, spent my childhood suffering similarly and have had problems with cavities from 1st grade through adulthood.
  - BenjiWiebe 8y ago
    I have lots of allergies, and two or three very mild food allergies, and terrible teeth. My mother is the same way. The rest of the family have few allergies and excellent teeth, even without brushing.
- maxxxxx 8y ago
  My sister has a ton of allergies but perfect teeth and I have terrible teeth but no allergies :-)
- Phithagoras 8y ago
  Is it possible your kid has celiac disease? It's not unheard of for untreated celiac children to have a ton of cavities. Once all sources of gluten are removed from the kid's diet their teeth tend to strengthen. The fact that celiac is an autoimmune disease could easily make this study relevant as well. The body-wide immune response of a celiac could easily change when gluten is removed from the digestive tract.
  - rogerkirkness 8y ago
    Can confirm. Born with no enamel, had a dozen or so cavities as a kid despite great dental care. Cut out wheat, life changing health benefits, one of which being no more cavities. That said, only 13% of people have the gene, and of those maybe 1/10 have symptoms, so it's not necessarily the most likely cause.
  - baq 8y ago
    unlikely as there are no other symptoms but thanks for the tip - might check sometime in the future.
ferendzia 8y ago
Curious if antibiotic use can be linked to detrimental effect on teeth by proxy, in parallel with autoimmune conditions.
westmeal 8y ago
I'd think sugar would be a big role in cavity formation but what do I know
- anfilt 8y ago
  Well sugar is food source for the bacteria that then produces acids that then in turn produce acid that can break down your tooth enamel. So eating something with lots sugar and not cleaning your mouth of all the remaining sugar could cause cavities. However, it's not the sugar, but the bacteria feeding off the sugar.
  - westmeal 8y ago
    Interesting thanks
takee 8y ago
I wonder if the results of this study indirectly also supports this previous study linking oral cancers and oral cavities, proving that higher number of cavities results in reduced cancer risk: https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/news/20130912/tooth-cavities-linked-to-lower-risk-of-head-neck-cancer-in-study https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/news/20130912/tooth-caviti...

70 points by sahin-boydas 8y ago

baq 8y ago

i've got a kid that's allergic to certain foods and has lots of cavities even though he eats the same things and cares for his teeth the same way his brother, who isn't allergic, does. with my sample size of 1 i can confirm this study

SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
As an alternative sample size of one, I spent my entire childhood sniffle and stuffed up and I've had a total of 1 cavity in my mid-30 years. My sibling, who had no allergies, also suffered no cavities.
- theprotocol 8y ago
  To add another n=1, I have severe allergies, not quite life threatening but almost (partial but significant throat constriction upon exposure), and I've never had a cavity and seem almost incapable of getting one. I only brush one time, at night, and don't use toothpaste (couldn't find one I wasn't mildly sensitive to). It is established that immune cells are modulated by microbiota - and yes, there are oral microbiota, and there are even oral probiotic supplements one can take which seem to be effective for certain conditions. If you are interested in this topic, I'd recommend paying close attention to how the 2 main strains were discovered (S. Salivarius K12 and M18) - iirc. at least one of the two was first extracted from a child who had no cavities.
- aswanson 8y ago
  Extending the study, spent my childhood suffering similarly and have had problems with cavities from 1st grade through adulthood.
- BenjiWiebe 8y ago
  I have lots of allergies, and two or three very mild food allergies, and terrible teeth. My mother is the same way. The rest of the family have few allergies and excellent teeth, even without brushing.
maxxxxx 8y ago
My sister has a ton of allergies but perfect teeth and I have terrible teeth but no allergies :-)
Phithagoras 8y ago
Is it possible your kid has celiac disease? It's not unheard of for untreated celiac children to have a ton of cavities. Once all sources of gluten are removed from the kid's diet their teeth tend to strengthen. The fact that celiac is an autoimmune disease could easily make this study relevant as well. The body-wide immune response of a celiac could easily change when gluten is removed from the digestive tract.
- rogerkirkness 8y ago
  Can confirm. Born with no enamel, had a dozen or so cavities as a kid despite great dental care. Cut out wheat, life changing health benefits, one of which being no more cavities. That said, only 13% of people have the gene, and of those maybe 1/10 have symptoms, so it's not necessarily the most likely cause.
- baq 8y ago
  unlikely as there are no other symptoms but thanks for the tip - might check sometime in the future.

ferendzia 8y ago

Curious if antibiotic use can be linked to detrimental effect on teeth by proxy, in parallel with autoimmune conditions.

westmeal 8y ago

I'd think sugar would be a big role in cavity formation but what do I know

anfilt 8y ago
Well sugar is food source for the bacteria that then produces acids that then in turn produce acid that can break down your tooth enamel. So eating something with lots sugar and not cleaning your mouth of all the remaining sugar could cause cavities. However, it's not the sugar, but the bacteria feeding off the sugar.
- westmeal 8y ago
  Interesting thanks

takee 8y ago

I wonder if the results of this study indirectly also supports this previous study linking oral cancers and oral cavities, proving that higher number of cavities results in reduced cancer risk: https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/news/20130912/tooth-cavities-linked-to-lower-risk-of-head-neck-cancer-in-study https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/news/20130912/tooth-caviti...