Scientists may have identified a sweet solution to tooth decay in the form of a natural compound that can combat bacteria. While studying food borne pathogens, they noticed that listeria appeared to easily form layers of bacteria on most wood — but avoided maple. The researchers isolated compounds called polyphenols from the plant and tested them against a type of bacteria, Streptococcus mutans.

Study author Dr Mark Gomelsky, an expert in microbiology at the University of Wyoming in the  US, said: “Since S.mutans initiates cavities by forming biofilms (plaques) on teeth and producing acid that destroys tooth enamel, we asked: could maple polyphenols also inhibit S.mutans biofilms?”

Lab tests showed that maple polyphenols were able to block the bacteria from forming biofilms on plastic teeth.

Dr Gomelsky added: “Everything fell into place just as we predicted. That’s a rare experience in science, and probably the first time it’s happened in my 35-year research career.

“We discovered that several polyphenols present in maple wood or maple sap can inhibit the sortase enzyme in S. mutans, which in turn prevents this cavity-causing bacterium from attaching to tooth surfaces.” 

They also prevented bacteria growth on a material that mimics tooth enamel. The team now hopes the maple compounds could be used in dental products to prevent cavities. 

Such products could be safer than those which rely on killing bacteria, including mouthwash, which can be dangerous if swallowed by young children, they said.

Almost a quarter of five-year-olds in England had “visually obvious tooth decay” in the 2021-2022 school year, official figures show.

The findings were published in Microbiology Spectrum, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.