Scientists find oldest cavities ever seen in mammals

New fossil evidence suggests mammals have suffered from cavities for a long, long time, and we can blame it on our timeless love of sugary foods.

Dental caries has been detected in more than 7% of fossils belonging to Microsyops latidens, a primate that lived in the early Eocene around 54 million years ago, according to new research published today in Scientific Reports. The scientists, led by Keegan Selig of the University of Toronto Scarborough, say the cavities were most likely caused by eating sweet fruits and sugary foods, which is quite relatable.

One interesting thing about the new study is that scientists were able to track the prevalence of cavities, sometimes called cavities, among M. latidens over time, allowing them to infer dietary changes over the same period. Additionally, the methods used in the study can now be used to track similar dental issues and dietary habits / changes in other extinct species.

We don’t know much about M. latidens (they have no living descendants), but they probably lived in trees and ate a combination of fruits and insects. Unlike primates living today, this animal “Probably leaned on his nose to feel the world versus how much he leaned on his vision” Selig wrote in an email. The anthropologist embarked on this study to find out what types of food M. latidens was eating, and he thought that tooth decay might offer some indication.

Cavities, whether they formed 54 million years ago or yesterday, are caused by bacteria in the mouth that eat sugars stuck to the teeth. Bacteria To vomit a very acidic by-product, which eats away at dental tissue, forming a hole or cavity.

“We cannot be 100% certain that it was the fruit that caused these cavities in M. latidens. Oother factors such as the pH and biochemistry of the mouth could also produce cavities, ”explained Selig. “But fruits, and in particular sugar, are the main culprits in the production of cavities, just like in our own mouths today.”

Fossil evidence for the study comes from the southern Bighorn Basin in Wyoming. Researchers collected a sample of 1,030 individual dental fossils, such as sections of teeth and jaws, spanning approximately 544,000 years from the Late Eocene. It is now the “largest sample to date of fossil decay in a single species of extinct mammal.And the “first known sample of tooth decay in an extinct mammal,” as the researchers wrote in their study. A 12.5-A million-year-old fossil from another extinct primate is believed to be the former record holder for the oldest known mammal cavity.

Selig, along with anthropologist Mary Silcox, also at the University of Toronto Scarborough, visually analyzed each of the 1,030 fossils, finding 77 of them with cavities. That’s 7.48% of the samples.

“The most surprising thing was the number of individuals in our sample with cavities,” said Selig. “Compared to living primates, M. latidens had more cavities than you might expect.

In terms of severity, cavities ranged from very minor to cavities that took up almost half of a tooth’s surface. Selig said it is difficult to know what effect this has on their health “but having cavities, especially large ones, can lead to many health problems”, such as tooth loss, infection or injury. discomfort when chewing. “None of these problems would be great for an animal,” he added.

Interestingly, the oldest and youngest fossils had the fewest cavities compared to the others. This likely means that “this species experienced a change in their diet to include more fruits or other foods high in sugar for a short time,” according to the study. “Our analysis therefore suggests that the diet of M. latidens fluctuated over time. The reason is probably related to climate changes during the Lower Eocene, which resulted in different vegetation and, therefore, variable access to food.

Sets of similar fossils could give similar information. Selig hopes his team’s findings “will lead to other researchers checking the fossils they study for cavities,” as these dental annoyances “can provide very useful information about an animal’s diet. “

A very cool study, but suddenly I have an overwhelming urge to brush my teeth.

Following: Neanderthals took good care of their teeth, unlike some of us.