Human Oral Microbiome and Systemic Diseases: What Stage are We at?

Abstract

The oral cavity is a dynamic ecosystem comprising an array of microbial communities, including many pathogenic or opportunistic species. Recent studies have also demonstrated the role of periodontal disease as a risk factor or enhancer of distant systemic pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease and colorectal cancer with bacterial periodontopathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, respectively. Since the publication of the results of the human microbiome project, it was shown that microorganisms do not have unique niches and their presence in various locations does not necessarily generate disease. We should emphasize that we are just beginning to know the characteristics of microbiomes, their variability influenced by various factors, and their interaction with the host.