For some people, sugar isn't the only thing that risks tooth decay, say scientists from Cornell University in New York.

Humans carry multiple copies of the salivary amylase gene (AMY1), which helps begin breaking down starch in the mouth -- the first step in digesting carb-laden foods like bread and pasta ...

Having more copies of a gene usually translates to higher levels of the protein the genes code for—in this case, the enzyme ...

Fourteen-month-old Tomas was diagnosed with ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency when he was a few weeks old ...

Study: The Impact of Human Salivary Amylase Gene Copy Number and Starch on Oral Biofilms. Image Credit: Stastny_Pavel / Shutterstock It's common knowledge that sugar causes cavities, but new ...

More information: Dorothy K. Superdock et al, The Impact of Human Salivary Amylase Gene Copy Number and Starch on Oral Biofilms, Microorganisms (2025). DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13020461 ...

The AMY1 gene is responsible for producing salivary amylase, an enzyme that helps digest starch in the mouth. Earlier studies have linked AMY1 to cavities and periodontal disease. However ...

The starch connection: Why It’s about more than just sugar The AMY1 gene is responsible for creating salivary amylase, the enzyme that gets the ball rolling when you eat starchy foods.

The AMY1 gene, which varies from 2 to 20 copies per person, affects how well starch is broken down. More copies mean more salivary amylase, an adaptation from when humans transitioned to starch ...