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  • Thanks to Brilliant for supporting this episode of SciShow.

  • Go to Brilliant.org/SciShow to learn more.

  • [♩INTRO]

  • There's nothing fun about getting a cavity.

  • They can be uncomfortable to have and expensive to treat,

  • and sometimes, it can feel like there's not much you can do to prevent them.

  • Like, you're already brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing!

  • How did tooth decay happen?

  • In many ways, the world would be a better place if we could just prevent cavities

  • from popping up altogether. And the beautiful thing is, we might be able to.

  • Ultimately, to keep our mouths cavity-free,

  • we have to tackle the main cause of tooth decay.

  • And no, I'm not talking about sugar.

  • I'm talking about a bacterium called Streptococcus mutans.

  • It's one of the many types of bacteria in your mouth,

  • and it's one of the main things that causes cavities.

  • S. mutans lives on your teeth, feeds off the sugars on your tooth plaque,

  • and almost instantly turns those sugars into acid.

  • Normally, compounds in your saliva neutralize the extra acid after a few minutes,

  • which is why you don't really notice S. mutans at work.

  • But that acid can still accumulate around the microbe itself.

  • And if you don't brush it away, you can develop a really acidic spot on your tooth.

  • If that spot develops for long enough, the acid can wear away tooth's outer surface,

  • potentially creating a pit so deep that it becomes a full-blown cavity.

  • That's a good reason to clean your teeth,

  • but sometimes, cavities can happen despite your best efforts.

  • And besides, not everyone has regular access to fancy toothbrushes and floss.

  • So while there are plenty of preventative options, scientists have also begun to

  • investigate if there's anything we can do to get rid of S. mutans for good.

  • And so far, they've found some possibilities!

  • For one, a few studies have noticed that people who have more of

  • the amino acid arginine in their mouths tend to get fewer cavities.

  • According to a 2018 experiment, this could be because a different strain of

  • Streptococcus metabolizes arginine into a tiny amount of hydrogen peroxide.

  • And that hydrogen peroxide prevents S. mutans

  • from fermenting sugar and, ultimately, from growing.

  • So if we could introduce the right kind of Streptococcus into a toothpaste,

  • we might be able to reduce cavities.

  • That isn't the only option, though.

  • In 2011, researchers also came up with a special mouthwash

  • that can kill S. mutans while leaving helpful bacteria alone.

  • The compound in their mouthwash is called C16G2, which

  • would probably benefit from a good brand name.

  • It's a synthetic antimicrobial compound designed to quickly target a specific

  • chemical S. mutans gives off.

  • And while it can sometimes attack other bacteria,

  • it almost only kills these cavity culprits.

  • In a test, the mouthwash effectively reduced the damage done to tooth enamel by

  • the S. mutans bacteria, as well. Which is great!

  • So far, though, these options for eliminating cavities are promising,

  • but they're not well-tested enough to go prime time.

  • We'll need more research to prove that they're definitely effective and safe.

  • But hey, if this someday means a world with no cavities… I'm all for it.

  • This cavity problem is really just one big puzzle, where scientists have to figure out

  • how to get rid of S. mutans without disrupting the rest of our mouths.

  • It's a huge exercise in problem-solving

  • and if that kind of thing sounds like your jam,

  • you might enjoy the Joy of Problem Solving course from Brilliant.

  • The course doesn't focus on mouth bacteria;

  • instead, it challenges you to improve your logic and math skills.

  • But it does so in a really fun way that's way more interesting than your typical math lesson.

  • Like, you solve problems with humans and vampires,

  • figure out how to rearrange coins, and learn more about how to catch when

  • someone is stretching the truth.

  • Which, I don't know... seems like a pretty useful skill.

  • When you're done with this course, you can check out all of Brilliant's other math,

  • science, computer science, and engineering courses.

  • They're working on some new courses, too, so keep an eye out for that.

  • If you want to sign up, head over to Brilliant.org/SciShow.

  • The first 200 people to sign up there will get 20% off

  • their annual Premium subscription.

  • [♩OUTRO]

Thanks to Brilliant for supporting this episode of SciShow.

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B2 中上級

虫歯にならない歯への近道は? (How Close Are We to Cavity-Proof Teeth?)

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    林宜悉 に公開 2021 年 01 月 14 日
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