According to new research, eating starch-rich food like rice, pasta, potatoes and beans may cause tooth decay among individuals who have a high number of copies the AMY1 genetic code.
Cornell University researchers have studied the relationship between salivary amylase and the composition of the oral microbiome, in particular regarding digestible starsches.
The study’s lead author, Angela Poole of the University of California, Berkeley, is a professor in molecular nutrition. According to your copy number of AMY1, you might want to make sure that you brush your teeth right after eating these digestible carbohydrates.
Previous studies showed that an increase in the number of AMY1 copies is associated with an elevated risk for dental caries and periodontal diseases, as well as higher levels of Porphyromonas endodontalisThe bacterium is often associated with infection of the canals.
It was not clear how the salivary enzyme, amylase, influences the oral microbiome after exposure to starch. Researchers aimed to fill this knowledge gap.
What we wanted to learn in this experiment was that. What is happening in the mouth of someone who eats starch and does the answer change if the copy number on their tongue is low or high? Poole. The changes were dependent on AMY1 and other bacteria.
Saliva samples from 31 individuals in Ithaca were collected. AMY1 copies ranged between 2 and 20. It was found that those with higher AMY1 numbers were more likely to have the bacteria, known as Streptococcus In their saliva. The bacteria feed on sugars that are produced when starch is broken down.
According to Poole, “If someone has a high copy number, they break down starch efficiently—and bacteria that like those sugars are going to grow more in that person’s mouth.”
Researchers also noticed an abundance of bacteria in the laboratory, such as Atopobium You can also find out more about the following: VeillonellaThe decreased among individuals who had a greater copy number of AMY1. The oral microbiome responds to different substrates.
So you can see species acting differently depending on substrates. Poole explained that it’s incredible to see how these microbes can adapt just as we humans do.
The team also found that AMY1 is prevalent more in people who are accustomed to agricultural methods, and emphasizes carbohydrate resources.
Poole said that, “the populations who historically have had more access to starch, tend to have more copy,” adding that this “makes practical sense, as it gives you an advantage in a time of scarcity, being able to breakdown those starches faster.”
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Superdock, D. K., Johnson, L. M., Ren, J., Khan, A., Eno, M., Man, S., & Poole, A. C. (2025). The Impact of the Human Salivary Amylase Copy Number on Oral Biofilms. Microorganisms, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13020461