THE IMPACT OF ORAL MICROBIOME IN MAINTAINING ORAL HEALTH AND PREVENTING DISEASE

Abstract

Among the vast array of microbial communities that inhabit in the human body ,one of the most diverse and complex microorganismsare oral microbes , including over 700 species of bacteria, numerous viruses, fungi and protozoa[1,2,3]. The oral microbiome plays an important role to maintains a normal oral physiological environment[4]. Dysbiosis of the oral microbiome has been linked to various oral and systemic diseases. The connection between the host and microorganisms significantly shapes the microbial composition which ultimately affecting the host’s overall health.[5,6,7] Numerous studies have consistently indicates that the microbiome is closely linked to various types of cancer including oral cancer, prostate cancer, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and also diseases like periodontal disease , diabetes and etc.[8] Also, research has demonstrated that cancer progression can, in turn, alter the composition of the human microbiome. The main risk factors for cancer of the oral cavity are the consumption of tobacco and alcohol. The effect of carcinogens on the oral mucosa creates an area prone to malignant transformation.[9,10,11] The immune-inflammatory response of the host in periodontitis is primarily marked by a physiological acute inflammatory reaction (gingivitis) to both supragingival and subgingival plaque, maintained by innate immune system cells.[12] Fusobacterium plays an crucial role in the bacterial impact on OSCC where as it had the ability to co-adhere with other species and form an association network centered around itself in patients of the cancer group. [14,15] We will discuss the complex relationships between the oral microbiome and various oral health conditions and how these microbes are used to improve human health and the future aspects of these microbes in this paper.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.65525/SVUP.9788198800473.2025.129-141