Study reveals that cavities are contagious
March 29th, 2011 - 7:42 pm ICT by Aishwarya BhattChicago, Mar 29 (THAINDIAN NEWS) A new study has found that cavities could be transmitted between people. The research identified that the most common way that cavities could be transmitted is through saliva.
One of the most common forms of cavity is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus mutans. It mostly affects infants and the researchers say mothers and caregivers could be responsible for the transmission of the bacteria. For instance when a caregiver tastes the food of an infant to determine whether it is hot or not, the person could inadvertently pass the bacteria to the child.
A cosmetic dentist in Chicago, Dr. Margaret Mitchell, is convinced that cavities is contagious. She added that couples could also infect each other with the disease. She gave an instance where one of her patients developed cavities after kissing a man who had not seen his dentist for so long.
Dr. Mitchell said that, “In one instance, a patient in her 40s who had never had a cavity suddenly developed two cavities and was starting to get some gum disease.”
According to Mitchell, the lady later realized that the man that she has been going out with had not seen a dentist for about a year and a half.
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Tags: 40s, caregiver, caregivers, cavities, cavity, chicago dr, cosmetic dentist, couples, dr margaret, dr mitchell, gum disease, margaret mitchell, saliva, streptococcus mutans