New Bacteria may be Key to Understanding Gum Disease
Unquestionably, bacteria cause tooth decay and the two major types of gum disease: periodontitis and gingivitis. There have been many experiments that prove this idea. However, the idea that there is one germ for each disease, postulated by the famous researcher as Koch's Postulates doesn't hold for gum disease.

Instead, it seems that many different species of bacteria and some viruses are capable of producing periodontal disease. What's even more confusing is that experts think that 50% of the bacteria that live in the mouth have yet to be discovered.

Using a battery of highly sophisticated tests, researchers at Stanford Medical Center found 37 never-before-seem bacteria in the mouth of one 39 year old patient. These new tests include DNA analysis of the patient's plaque as well as improvements in the old culture technique.

Not all oral bacteria are bad. Some help start the process of digestion and others keep bad bacteria in check. In fact, most of the hundreds of bacteria that live in the mouth are not harmful. 

In regard to periodontitis, the more serious type of gum disease, it would appear, at this time, that about a dozen different species of bacteria are responsible. This makes it hard to develop specific therapy if you don't know exactly which bacteria is responsible for a patient's disease.

We still don't know if some of the unknown, undiscovered bacteria will be added to the list of bad guys. Having a more complete list of the kinds of bacteria that live in the mouth will help researches develop more effective therapies.

Right now it is very hard to use antibiotics against plaque bacteria. This is because most of them live on the teeth out of the blood stream. This means that any antibiotic we swallow or inject doesn't get at the bacteria. Mouthwashes with antibiotics are ineffective, too. Saliva and the flow of fluid from under the gums dilute mouthwash so quickly that they are practically useless. Identification of new bacteria may reveal some weaknesses to help develop better treatments.


Robert Koch's Postulates are a series of rules established in the 1800's for determining if a specific microorganism is the causative agent of a disease. Koch assumed that every individual disease was caused by only one specific species of bacteria.

Koch's Postulates are also used to determine if a disease is contagious. A strict interpretation of Koch Postulates would classify periodontal disease as contagious because it can be spread. However, his is not the usual way people get periodontal disease.

Periodontal pathogens are present in almost everyone. So you don't really get them from another person like you catch a cold from them. It is only when these bacteria multiply that periodontal disease occurs.

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