How Does Dry Mouth Affect the Oral Microbiome?
Saliva plays an important role in maintaining the oral environment. When the mouth becomes persistently dry, the reduction in saliva can change the conditions in which microorganisms live. This condition is commonly called dry mouth, while the objective reduction in salivary flow is known as hyposalivation. The terms are related but are not always identical. […]
How Does Diabetes Affect the Oral Microbiome?
Diabetes can affect many aspects of health, including the environment inside the mouth. The oral microbiome is a complex community of microorganisms that lives on the teeth, tongue, gums, saliva, and other oral surfaces. Research suggests that diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, is associated with changes in these microbial communities. The relationship is not simple […]
How Do Antibiotics Affect the Oral Microbiome?
Antibiotics are important medicines used to treat bacterial infections, but their effects are not limited to the bacteria responsible for an infection. Because antibiotics can affect susceptible microorganisms beyond the original target, researchers have become increasingly interested in what happens to microbial communities throughout the body, including the oral microbiome. The oral microbiome is a […]
How Does Smoking Affect the Oral Microbiome?
Smoking exposes the mouth to tobacco smoke and can change the environment in which oral microorganisms live. The oral microbiome is a complex community of microorganisms that occupies different areas of the mouth. Because tobacco exposure can affect several parts of this environment, researchers have studied whether smoking is associated with changes in oral microbial […]
How Does the Oral Microbiome Differ Across the Mouth?
The oral microbiome is not exactly the same throughout the mouth. Different parts of the oral cavity provide different conditions for microorganisms to live. The teeth, tongue, gums, cheeks, palate, and saliva each create their own environment. Because of these differences, microbial communities can vary from one oral site to another. This is an important […]
How Does Fluoride Affect the Oral Microbiome?
Fluoride is best known for helping protect teeth from decay, but it can also interact with the microbial environment in dental plaque. The oral microbiome is a community of microorganisms that lives throughout the mouth. These microorganisms form biofilms on surfaces such as the teeth and interact continuously with saliva, food, oral tissues, and the […]
What Is Dental Plaque and How Does It Affect the Oral Microbiome?
Dental plaque is one of the most important microbial environments in the mouth. It is not simply a layer of bacteria sitting on the teeth. Dental plaque is a structured biofilm made up of microorganisms, saliva components, food particles, and substances produced by the microbial community itself. Because plaque provides a place where microorganisms can […]
How Does the Oral Microbiome Interact With the Immune System?
The mouth is one of the body’s main interfaces with the outside environment, and the oral microbiome is part of that system. Thousands of microorganisms live throughout the mouth, including on the tongue, teeth, gums, and other oral surfaces. They do not exist separately from the body. Instead, they interact continuously with saliva, the oral […]
How Does Stress Affect the Oral Microbiome?
Stress can affect many aspects of daily life, and researchers are also studying how prolonged psychological stress may interact with the oral microbiome. The oral microbiome is the community of microorganisms living throughout the mouth. These microorganisms are influenced by saliva, diet, oral hygiene, lifestyle, immune responses, and many other characteristics of the oral environment. […]
How Does Pregnancy Affect the Oral Microbiome?
Pregnancy brings many changes to the body, including changes in hormones, immune function, metabolism, diet, and the oral environment. The mouth is also affected during this period. The oral microbiome, which is the community of microorganisms living throughout the mouth, can change in response to these conditions. Research suggests that pregnancy is associated with differences […]