Advancements in Autophagy Modulation for the Management of Oral Disease: A Focus on Drug Targets and Therapeutics

Autophagy is an intrinsic breakdown system that recycles organelles and macromolecules, which influences metabolic pathways, differentiation, and thereby cell survival. Oral health is an essential component of integrated well-being, and it is critical for developing therapeutic interventions to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the maintenance of oral homeostasis. However, because of the complex dynamic relationship between autophagy and oral health, associated treatment modalities have not yet been well elucidated. Determining how autophagy affects oral health at the molecular level may enhance the understanding of prevention and treatment of targeted oral diseases. At the molecular level, hard and soft oral tissues develop because of complex interactions between epithelial and mesenchymal cells. Aging contributes to the progression of various oral disorders including periodontitis, oral cancer, and periapical lesions during aging. Autophagy levels decrease with age, thus indicating a possible association between autophagy and oral disorders with aging. In this review, we critically review various aspects of autophagy and their significance in the context of various oral diseases including oral cancer, periapical lesions, periodontal conditions, and candidiasis. A better understanding of autophagy and its underlying mechanisms can guide us to develop new preventative and therapeutic strategies for the management of oral diseases.