Abstract
The oral cavity is host to a complex and diverse microbiota community which plays an important role in health and disease. Major oral infections, i.e., caries and periodontal diseases, are both responsible for and induced by oral microbiota dysbiosis. This dysbiosis is known to have an impact on other chronic systemic diseases, whether triggering or aggravating them, making the oral microbiota a novel target in diagnosing, following, and treating systemic diseases. In this review, we summarize the major roles that oral microbiota can play in systemic disease development and aggravation and also how novel tools can help investigate this complex ecosystem. Finally, we describe new therapeutic approaches based on oral bacterial recolonization or host modulation therapies. Collaboration in diagnosis and treatment between oral specialists and general health specialists is of key importance in bridging oral and systemic health and disease and improving patients’ wellbeing.
Highlights
Introduction published maps and institutional affilThe oral cavity is host to a complex microbial group, the oral microbiota, composed mainly of bacteria and includes viruses, protozoans, fungi, archaea, phages, and ultrasmall bacteria belonging to the candidate phyla radiation group [1,2,3]
We showed that sex/gender plays a role in the oral microbiota signature of obesity in subjects with periodontitis: obese females were characterized by an increase in the Streptococcus genus compared to obese males, where the Neisseria genus was increased [68]
Interestingly, a study showed the presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) in subgingival plaque and Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Treponema denticola (Td) in the tracheal aspirates of patients suffering from acute exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) [122]
Summary
The oral cavity is the second-largest microbiota reservoir in the body and has been the subject of intense study for several years [11]. The composition of saliva plays a determining role on the microbiota through a cascade of mechanisms linked to the molecules in suspension, which condition the composition of the biofilm The latter allows the attachment of bacteria to oral surfaces. Caries are responsible for the destruction of the tooth’s hard tissues They are caused by salivary dysbiosis (reduction of the bacterial diversity) resulting from a disturbed supra-gingival biofilm associated with an excess of sugar consumption and/or poor oral hygiene (factors of dysbiosis). This imbalance leads to a modification in the biofilm composition characterized by an increase in Grampositive bacteria and acidification of the medium [21,22]. This greater diversity is thought to be the result of the additional nutrient supply from the destruction of surrounding tissues and the physical increase in the size of the periodontal pocket lesion [7,28]
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