Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026
10:42
Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
Published on: December 31, 2017
Dynamic changes in oral microbiome composition during early childhood caries management
Yinbo Wang1,2, Guiding Li1, Yaopeng Liu1
1Yunnan Key Laboratory of Stomatology & Department of Preventive Dentistry, The Affiliated Stomatology Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650106, China.
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
|June 24, 2026
Summary
Early childhood caries (ECC) management significantly improves oral hygiene and alters the oral microbiome for up to six months. Specific bacteria like Saccharibacteria show correlations with caries severity and salivary pH.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Public Health
Background:
- Early childhood caries (ECC) is a major public health concern.
- The oral microbiome is crucial in caries development.
- Limited research exists on oral microbiome dynamics beyond three months post-treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To monitor dynamic changes in the dental plaque microbiome, salivary pH, and oral hygiene in children with ECC over six months.
- To investigate the long-term effects of caries management on the oral microbial community.
Main Methods:
- A 6-month prospective study involving children with ECC undergoing caries management.
- Assessment of oral microbiome, salivary pH, and oral hygiene at baseline, post-treatment, and at 1, 3, and 6-month follow-ups.
- Analysis included Chao1 scores, principal coordinate analysis, and relative abundance of specific bacterial taxa.
Main Results:
- Significant improvement in children's oral hygiene post-ECC management.
- Salivary pH increased initially but returned to baseline; microbial diversity (Chao1) increased at later follow-ups.
- Distinct oral microbiome clustering observed; increased abundance of Corynebacterium and Corynebacterium matruchotii noted at 3 and 6 months.
- Saccharibacteria abundance correlated positively with dmfs scores and negatively with salivary pH.
Conclusions:
- Comprehensive ECC management is associated with dynamic, long-term changes in the oral microbiome.
- Oral microbiome shifts may reflect improvements in oral health and hygiene.
- Further research, including randomized controlled trials, is needed to confirm the impact of dental treatment on oral microbiota dynamics.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
01:27The Oral Microbiota
The oral microbiome includes a complex ecosystem comprising over 700 microbial species, identified through genomic sequencing and culture-based analyses to date. This community includes a core microbiome, found universally among individuals, and a variable component influenced by environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and host genetics. Site-specific conditions, including oxygen gradients, pH levels, and nutrient availability, determine the spatial distribution of these microorganisms...
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
01:15Teeth
The formation of teeth, also known as odontogenesis, is a complex process that begins in utero, around the sixth week of embryonic development. There are three stages to this process: the bud stage, the cap stage, and the bell stage.
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
01:21Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics
Antibiotics have revolutionized modern medicine by saving countless lives from bacterial infections. However, their widespread use has inadvertently harmed the delicate balance of the human gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, a complex community of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, immune responses, and maintaining intestinal health. Antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum types, disrupt this ecosystem by eradicating both harmful and beneficial...
01:22Introduction to the Human Microbiota
Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity, and disease...