Do you know the oral microbiome? – Comedy.com

The microbiome refers to the collection of genomes of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses living in our bodies, or the collection of microorganisms living in a specific physiological and chemical environment. It is also a word first used in 2001 by Professor Joshua Lederberg, winner of the 1958 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

The clinical meaning of microbiome refers to the micro-environment (small-scale biological environment) in which microorganisms are active in our body. This environment changes over time and space, and has a significant impact on our health and the function of major organs. It is estimated that there are about 38 to 100 trillion bacteria in our body, and about a third of the intestinal microorganisms are lost every time we have a bowel movement.

Many studies are being conducted worldwide, and oral microbiome data is the second largest, along with gut microbiome. The oral cavity is easy to access, but it has limitations due to large differences between samples. Approximately 6 billion bacteria that successfully settle in the oral cavity are transmitted to others through saliva, affecting the entire population. Representative dental diseases include periodontitis, gingivitis, caries, and oral cancer, all of which are known to be related to the oral microbiome. Diseases that were not thought to be related to the oral cavity are also related to the oral microbiome, and representative examples include Alzheimer’s disease, colon cancer, and lung cancer.

Researchers at the National Institute on Aging in the United States conducted a large-scale study that followed 6,000 people of various ages for 26 years and found that chronic periodontitis and the main cause of periodontitis were P.gingivalisIt was reported that it is involved in the onset and death of Alzheimer’s disease. Periodontitis is a representative dental disease, and most patients are elderly, but recently, the rate of increase in periodontal disease in young patients in their 20s and 30s cannot be ignored. About half of the elderly over 65 years old suffer from severe periodontitis, but there is still no appropriate treatment or treatment device.

Also, as implants become more popular, peri-implantitis has become a major dental disease. 20% of implanted dental implants experience infection around the implant. Infection after implant placement can be divided into implant mucositis, which is similar to periodontitis, with bleeding on probing (BOP) of the periodontal tissue, and peri-implantitis, in which inflammation has spread to the alveolar bone. The cause of peri-implantitis includes the patient’s health status and genetic factors, but understanding the microbiome around the implant can be very helpful in treating the disease. Bacterial infection after implant placement can begin as early as 30 minutes after implant placement, and the microenvironment around the implant can upset the balance of the oral microbiome due to the biofilm formed over several weeks after implantation, which can worsen peri-implantitis.

Most of the microorganisms that make up our body’s microbiome are symbionts that have evolved over a long period of time. They produce vitamins and amino acids that humans need, help with digestion and nutrient absorption, regulate metabolism and development, and act as beneficial bacteria that control pathogens. Our body’s microbiome is an essential symbiotic microorganism community that plays an important role in maintaining health and the immune system, and is also called a second genome. However, if the microenvironment of microorganisms changes due to various reasons such as poor eating habits or long-term use of antibiotics, and the balance of the microbial community is disrupted (dysbiosis), the risk of developing digestive diseases, obesity, diabetes, autism, and brain diseases may increase.

References

Hwang, In-Seong (2021). Trends in oral microbiome research. BRIC View 2021-T06

(Feb. 09, 2021)

Kim, J.M., Yoo, SY., An, JS. et al. Effect of a multichannel oral irrigator on periodontal health and the oral microbiome. Sci Rep 2023;13:12043