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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
10:42
Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
Published on: December 31, 2017
Causal associations between gut microbiota and five common oral lesions: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Ying Tang1, Jianming Yuan, Feng Pan
1Department of Prosthodontics, Huangpu District Dental Disease Prevention and Treatment Institute, Shanghai, China.
Medicine
|August 7, 2026
Summary
This study reveals causal links between gut bacteria and oral health issues like loose teeth and toothaches. Specific gut microbes may influence conditions such as mouth ulcers, offering new targets for oral care.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Oral health
- Genetics
Background:
- Inconsistent findings link gut microbiota (GM) to oral lesions.
- Understanding causal relationships is crucial for oral health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate causal links between GM and five oral conditions using Mendelian randomization.
- To identify specific microbial taxa associated with oral health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study.
- Utilized summary-level GWAS data for GM and oral conditions.
- Applied IVW, complementary MR, reverse MR, and multivariable MR (MVMR).
Main Results:
- Identified 42 potential GM-oral condition associations.
- Specific taxa like Mollicutes and Tenericutes linked to loose teeth; Slackia genus to toothache.
- Associations remained significant after adjusting for risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Established robust causal links between specific gut microbiota and oral conditions.
- Highlights the gut-oral health axis.
- Suggests potential preventive and therapeutic targets for oral care.
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