Ancient dental calculus reveals oral microbiome shifts associated with lifestyle and disease in Great Britain

A.S. Gancz, A.G. Farrer, M.P. Nixon, S. Wright, L. Arriola, C. Adler, E.R. Davenport, N. Gully, A. Cooper, K. Britton, K. Dobney, J.D. SIlverman, L.S. Weyrich

Nature Microbiology, 2023

An investigation of the microbial history of Great Britain revealing showcasing the presence of previously underdescribed microbial communities that are linked to human health in underappreciated ways.

Ancient human dental calculus metadata collection and sampling strategies: Recommendations for best practices

A.S. Gancz, S. Wright, L.S. Weyrich

American Journal of Biological Anthropology, 2023

Dental calculus is a valuable resource for researchers and communities, but current sampling strategies are underoptimized and unsustainable. With this survey, we summarize the ways in which skeletal and dental data are recorded and provide new guidelines for the documentation and sampling of this material.

Studying ancient human oral microbiomes could yield insights into the evolutionary history of noncommunicable diseases

A.S. Gancz, L.S. Weyrich

F1000 Research, 2023

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have played a critical role in shaping human evolution and societies. We discuss how oral microbiome features associated with NCDs in modern populations may be used to identify previously unstudied sources of morbidity and mortality differences in ancient groups.

The Millions of Microbial Reasons You Need to Brush Your Teeth

A.S. Gancz, S. Wright, N.E. Moore, L.S. Weyrich

Frontiers for Young Minds, 2021

Millions of tiny critters called microorganisms live in your mouth. Each one is unique and has a specific job.