Individuals with type 2 diabetes often have a higher incidence of tooth decay, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Recent evidence indicates that hyperglycemia could lead to the overwhelming presence of sugars not only in urine but also in saliva, yet its contribution to the development, or pathogenesis, of tooth decay is still unknown.

Researchers have now been able to demonstrate that this is directly influenced by blood sugar migration to saliva, changing the bacterial populations in the mouth to promote cavity development. In a study recently published in Microbiome , researchers from The University of Osaka have revealed that blood sugar migration to saliva, induced by hyperglycemia, caused shifts in the oral microbiome that fueled cavity-associated bacteria. This mig

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