3 ms·

My dentist claimed that humans have the most bacteria in their mouth than any domestic animals and he would rather be bitten by a dog than by a human. Can anyon

by jansan 3y ago

My dentist claimed that humans have the most bacteria in their mouth than any domestic animals and he would rather be bitten by a dog than by a human. Can anyone with some insight say if there is any truth to his claim?

dspillett 3y ago
It is true, but most of those bacteria are ones that we have developed a balance with (population sizes are kept in check by the body's environment and other life within it), so they do not pose a danger under normal circumstances. An open wound/near your mouth (maybe you've bitten your tongue accidentally) isn't much of a concern in that regard with your collection of bacteria (your immune system is aware of them and prepared), but if you bite someone else and break their skin you might transfer some cultures that your victim's immune system is not as prepared for. These populations are well suited to living in a human (that is why they are hanging around you), so easily take advantage of a human body with an immune response that takes time (due to lack of previous exposure) to ramp up a full controlling reaction.
keepamovin 3y ago
Perhaps it’s his gentle roundabout way of telling you to stop biting your dentist.
mrspuratic 3y ago
My national health authority says: - Human bites are known to be at risk of infection and subsequent complications with an infection rate ranging from 10-50%. - An estimated 3% to 18% of dog bites become infected (median time to infection is 24 hours) - Due to the high rate of puncture wounds, infection rates after cat bites may be as high as 50% (median time to infection is 12 hours) I looked it up due to a recent animal bite :/ https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/2/gp/antibiotic-prescribing/conditions-and-treatments/skin-soft-tissue/human-bite/ https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/2/gp/antibiotic-prescri...

3 ms·

My dentist claimed that humans have the most bacteria in their mouth than any domestic animals and he would rather be bitten by a dog than by a human. Can anyon

by jansan 3y ago

dspillett 3y ago
It is true, but most of those bacteria are ones that we have developed a balance with (population sizes are kept in check by the body's environment and other life within it), so they do not pose a danger under normal circumstances. An open wound/near your mouth (maybe you've bitten your tongue accidentally) isn't much of a concern in that regard with your collection of bacteria (your immune system is aware of them and prepared), but if you bite someone else and break their skin you might transfer some cultures that your victim's immune system is not as prepared for. These populations are well suited to living in a human (that is why they are hanging around you), so easily take advantage of a human body with an immune response that takes time (due to lack of previous exposure) to ramp up a full controlling reaction.
keepamovin 3y ago
Perhaps it’s his gentle roundabout way of telling you to stop biting your dentist.
mrspuratic 3y ago
My national health authority says: - Human bites are known to be at risk of infection and subsequent complications with an infection rate ranging from 10-50%. - An estimated 3% to 18% of dog bites become infected (median time to infection is 24 hours) - Due to the high rate of puncture wounds, infection rates after cat bites may be as high as 50% (median time to infection is 12 hours) I looked it up due to a recent animal bite :/ https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/2/gp/antibiotic-prescribing/conditions-and-treatments/skin-soft-tissue/human-bite/ https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/2/gp/antibiotic-prescri...