Microbiome: What it means for Gum Disease and Periodontal Disease

https://doi.org/10.46610/JAPP.2023.v05i02.002

Abstract

Modulating the oral microbiome for therapeutic purposes has become a potential way to avoid and treat diseases of the mouth. Oral health depends on the oral microbiome, which is a complex community of bacteria that live in the mouth. Dysbiosis is an imbalance in the mouth bacteria community. Mouth diseases start and get worse because of dysbiosis. This abstract talk about different ways to change the mouth microbiome to restore a healthy mix of microorganisms and improve oral health.  Probiotics, prebiotics, and antimicrobial drugs are used to introduce good microorganisms, specifically boost the growth of good bacteria, and get rid of bad microorganisms. Probiotics can fight harmful bacteria, increase the range of good bacteria, and boost the immune responses of the host. Prebiotics provide food for the good bacteria in your mouth, which helps them grow and slows the spread of pathogens. Antimicrobial drugs target and kill only harmful microorganisms, lowering the number of bacteria and stopping biofilms from forming.  Another new approach is phage treatment, which uses bacteriophages to kill only harmful bacteria while keeping the good bacteria in the environment. Phages can be used instead of standard antibiotics, especially as bacteria become more resistant to antibiotics.

In the end, changing the oral microbiome for medicinal purposes could help avoid and treat oral illnesses. Probiotics, prebiotics, antimicrobial drugs, phage treatment, and host immune modulation techniques are all ways to restore a healthy balance of microorganisms in the oral area. More study and development in this area could change the way people take care of their teeth and make it easier to treat oral illnesses.