Overview

• Two 4,000-year-old teeth found in Ireland reveal significant amounts of bacteria responsible for tooth decay and gum disease, offering new insights into ancient oral health.
• The presence of Streptococcus mutans and Tannerella forsythia in the ancient teeth suggests a more diverse ancient microbiome compared to today's.
• Genetic analysis indicates that dietary changes, particularly the increased consumption of sugar in recent centuries, have significantly impacted oral microbiome diversity and health.
• The discovery challenges previous understandings of oral bacteria evolution, showing more complex evolutionary trees and gene changes over time.
• This research underlines the importance of studying ancient microbiomes to better understand the relationship between diet, oral health, and overall human health.