Know Your Enemy: How a Newly Discovered Bacteria Helps Cause Cavities

Even though you probably think you already have enough nasty germs trying to ruin your teeth, dentists have discovered a strain of bacteria that may help your oral microbes cause cavities. While the oral health community has long believed that the germ Streptococcus mutans was the primary cause of dental caries, researchers have found that Selenomonas sputigena also plays a significant role in their development. Here’s a brief guide to how these microbes team up to wreck your teeth and what you can do about it.