Final answer:
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek is credited with the first observation of microbial life on teeth in 1675, using his own handcrafted microscopes to discover bacteria within dental plaque, leading to significant advancements in the field of microbiology.
Step-by-step explanation:
Microbial life on teeth was first observed by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. While examining various substances under his uniquely crafted microscopes, van Leeuwenhoek's curiosity led him to inspect the plaque from his own teeth. His groundbreaking observations in 1675 revealed a plethora of single-celled organisms which he quaintly referred to as "animalcules" or "wee little beasties." These observations marked the first known views of bacteria a fundamental aspect of microbiology.
Through the content loaded with descriptions of such foundational research, we recognize Antonie van Leeuwenhoek as a pivotal figure in the genesis of microbiology. His discoveries not only documented the microbial life thriving within oral plaque but also opened doors to the vast world of microorganisms, some of which are essential to the fermentative processes that produce bread, cheese and wine. Leeuwenhoek's work predated the Golden Age of Microbiology, where figures like Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch further illuminated the links between microbes and human health. The Dental Caries and other oral infections today can be better understood thanks to the early insights gained from these microbes, once invisible to the human eye, first spied by a visionary Dutch lens-maker.