Re:A history of the Crusades, as told by crusaders' DNA
by SketchySeaBeast on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @05:50PM
(#20289594)
I'm lucky enough not have the bacteria that cause cavities - I'm awful with going to the dentist, but every time I do I walk out without any cavities. However, I do walk out with a stern warning about the dangers of plaque - how it's constant inflammation that causes tooth decay, gum disease, and a multitude of systemic problems - having teeth covered in plaque seems to be a problem in and of itself.
Re:A history of the Crusades, as told by crusaders' DNA
by girzel on Wednesday June 26, 2019 @07:54PM
(#20290522)
Again, this is drawn mostly from hazy memories of articles previously read, but my understanding was that plaque on the teeth of people who don't eat a diet high in sugars and refined carbs doesn't cause inflammation, ie it's fairly neutral on the teeth and gums. I'm not trying to start a pseudo-science upswell here, though, so maybe ignore this for the time being.
You'd think the plaque would still be present on the skeletons, but who knows. This is just speculation to begin with...