Heavy Ion Radiation Directly Induced the Shift of Oral Microbiota and Increased the Cariogenicity of Streptococcus mutans

Abstract

The oral microbiome is crucial to understanding the pathogenesis of radiation caries. Although heavy ion radiation has been used to treat head and neck cancers in some proton therapy centers, its correlation with dental caries, especially its direct effects on the oral microbiome and cariogenic pathogens, has not been reported previously.