Variability of Oral Bacteria Linked to Ethnicity

A new study conducted by researchers at Ohio State University reveals that the bacteria present in the mouth of a person varies according to his ethnicity. The researchers analyzed over 400 different types of microbes from the mouths of 192 volunteers and were able to identify whether the sample had come from a white, Chinese, Latino or non-Hispanic black person. On an average around 149 different species of oral bacteria were present in the mouth of each volunteer.

The researchers said that their finding proves that a single type of dental care will not be effective for each and every person and the treatment should be adjusted according to their ethnicity. The study has been published in the journal PLOS One.

“We know that our food and oral hygiene habits determine what bacteria can survive and thrive in our mouths, which is why your dentist stresses brushing and flossing. Can your genetic makeup play a similar role? The answer seems to be yes, it can. No two people were exactly alike. That's truly a fingerprint”, lead researcher Purnima Kumar said.

Source-Medindia