Resilience of the oral microbiome

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Oral Health
• Microbiome Research

Background:

• The human mouth hosts a complex bacterial community influenced by diet, host factors, and disease.
• The oral microbiota exhibits significant resilience compared to other body sites, like the large intestine.
• Factors such as diet, systemic diseases, and medications can potentially impact oral microbial composition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the factors influencing the composition of the human oral microbiota.
• To discuss the resilience of the oral microbiota against various external and internal factors.
• To explore the relationship between oral microbiota, oral diseases, and systemic health conditions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies investigating oral microbiota composition and influencing factors.
• Analysis of the impact of diet, host immunity, medications, and systemic diseases on oral bacteria.
• Examination of the role of saliva and conditions like dry mouth in oral microbial ecology.

Main Results:

• Diet generally has a minimal effect on oral microbiota, except for excessive fermentable carbohydrates or nitrate intake.
• Oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontal diseases are linked to specific microbial shifts driven by acid production and inflammation.
• Systemic antimicrobials have limited effects, while locally delivered antimicrobials show some benefit despite bacterial biofilm resistance.
• Saliva is crucial for nutrient supply and preventing colonization by non-oral microbes; dry mouth increases opportunistic pathogen risk.
• Systemic diseases like diabetes significantly alter the oral microbiome due to changes in glucose levels.

Conclusions:

• The oral microbiota is remarkably resilient, with significant alterations primarily driven by disease processes rather than general dietary intake.
• Understanding the factors influencing oral microbiota is key to managing oral health and its connection to systemic well-being.
• Saliva and conditions affecting it, alongside systemic diseases like diabetes, play critical roles in shaping the oral microbial environment.