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A team from the University of Minnesota in the US has demonstrated how these signals operate and can be interrupted in the mouth, based on an analysis of lab-grown bacterial communities that form human dental plaque. While we're still in the early stages of disrupting this bacterial 'chatter', the researchers found a way to 'turn off' the signals that usually encourage the growth of bacteria linked to gum disease (also known as periodontal disease). Another key finding was that meddling with AHL signaling had different effects on bacterial colonies grown under standard conditions (like those on the surfaces of teeth and gums) and under low-oxygen conditions (such as those in plaques and in the nooks and crevices of the mouth that don't receive much air). We also know that the health of our teeth and gums is linked to brain, heart, and general health, and the researchers are hopeful that the approaches used here may help combat bacterial infections in other parts of the body.