Study using crowd-sourced specimens sheds light on diversity in the oral microbiome

A study published in “Nature” in February highlights the importance of research into the oral microbiome, and how regular dental care affects its diversity.

The study is unique because visitors to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science willingly provided cheek swabs that were used to create the data in the study. 

Imbalance in the microbes found in people’s mouths has been associated with a variety of health conditions, from dental cavities to obesity and heart disease. This study used cheek swabs provided by visitors to study whether or not previously identified associations between the oral microbiome and lifestyle factors, demographics, and genetics are strong enough to find in the general population.

The way the samples were collected sets this study apart from others, and shows what the natural variations within the oral biome might look like.

It did reveal that those who make regular trips to the dentist actually lessen the diversity of their oral microbiome, which is not typically a positive thing. But, those regular visits also reduce the presence of the pathogen Treponema.

“In the adults of our study, flossers have reduced beta diversity variation potentially caused by the disruption of small niches and physical removal of rare taxa during the flossing process," the study found.

Dentist visits reduce natural variation and diversity in the oral microbiota, said researchers Zachary M. Burcham, Nicole L. Garneau, Sarah S. Comstock, Robin M. Tucker, Rob Knight, and Jessica L. Metcalf, who authored the study.

The study revealed that, "The oral pathogen Treponema was associated more often with individuals who had not been to the dentist in over 12 months.”