Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the definition of the oral microbiome?
What is the definition of the oral microbiome?
The oral microbiome is a community of microbial residents in our oral cavity that maintain homeostasis and prevent disease.
How is the oral microbiome commonly measured?
How is the oral microbiome commonly measured?
The oral microbiome can be measured using a variety of techniques, with 16s rRNA sequencing being the most common.
Define dysbiosis in the context of oral health.
Define dysbiosis in the context of oral health.
Dysbiosis is an imbalance in the oral microbial community that is associated with disease pathogenesis.
List two factors that can contribute to dysbiosis.
List two factors that can contribute to dysbiosis.
Signup and view all the answers
What role do opportunistic pathogens play in oral dysbiosis?
What role do opportunistic pathogens play in oral dysbiosis?
Signup and view all the answers
Name a systemic disease with a strong link to oral health.
Name a systemic disease with a strong link to oral health.
Signup and view all the answers
How does inflammation related to oral dysbiosis affect systemic health?
How does inflammation related to oral dysbiosis affect systemic health?
Signup and view all the answers
Identify two oral conditions linked to diabetes.
Identify two oral conditions linked to diabetes.
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Oral Microbiome and Health
- Oral microbiome first identified by Antony van Leeuwenhoek
- Second largest microbial community after the gut
- Biofilms contain exopolysaccharides (EPS) for bacterial survival
- Microbiome function: maintain homeostasis, prevent disease
- Temperature: 37 degrees Celsius
- pH: 6.5 - 7
Species
- 700+ species
- Commensal bacteria (e.g., Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus salivarius)
- Can remove dental plaque, metabolize lactic acid
- Suppress pathogenic species via ammonia production
- Opportunistic species (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, viruses)
- Streptococcus, Prevotella, Haemophilus, Rothia, Veillonella, Neisseria, Fusobacterium, Porphyromonas
Measuring Oral Microbiome
- Culturing and microscopy
- PCR (e.g., real-time quantitative PCR)
- DNA microarrays (phylogenetic analysis)
- 16S rRNA sequencing
- Next-generation sequencing
Dysbiosis
- Imbalance in oral microbial community
- Linked to disease pathogenesis
Alcohol and Smoking
- Alcohol creates an acidic environment
- Smoking creates an anaerobic environment
- Loss of oral biofilm allows other species to dominate (e.g., P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, T. forsythia, T. denticola)
Inflammation and Systemic Disease
- Inflammation due to CRP dissemination and IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α initiation via neutrophils and macrophages.
- Pathwa of triggering systemic disease (includes Bacteraemia, Systemic Inflammation, Complications).
Systemic Inflammation
- Mediators of inflammatory pathways (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α) affect endothelial function
- Increased CRP proposes cardiovascular pathology
- Inflammation escalates blood coagulability due to tissue factor release from macrophages and monocytes.
- T cells, B cells, monocytes/macrophages migrate to perivascular adipose tissue causing vascular dysfunction and hypertension
Bacteremia
- Oral bacteria can translocate through ulcerated periodontal pockets
- Circulating P. gingivalis causes endothelium dysfunction and increases IL-6
- IL-6 causes atherosclerosis, inflammation, and hypertension
Nitrogen Oxide
- Inorganic nitrate is used by nitrate-reducing bacteria (Veillonella spp., Actinomyces, Haemophilus spp., Neisseria spp) to produce nitrite that forms NO
- NO causes vasodilation
- Entero-salivary nitrate/nitrite pathway
- (bacteria consuming nitrate --> producing nitrite --> producing nitrogen oxide inside blood vessel)
Genetic Susceptibility
- SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) related to increased risk of periodontitis (e.g., rs729876, rs16870060, rs2738058, rs428742)
Link between Oral Health and Systemic Disease
- Numerous diseases (e.g., anemia, Crohn's disease, diabetes, HIV, leukemia) have associations with oral inflammation
- Periodontitis has a bidirectional relationship with systemic diseases (like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes)
- Poor diabetes control and severe gum disease are correlated with elevated blood sugar levels (HbA1c)
- Periodontal treatment may improve glycemic control in patients with diabetes.
Cardiovascular Disease
- Periodontal disease is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease(25-90% increase)
- Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes
- Periodontal bacteria found in atherosclerotic plaques
Other Factors
- 7 days of chlorhexidine mouthwash reduces salivary nitrate and increases blood pressure
- Firmicutes are higher in patients with hypertension
- Prevotella and Veillonella correlate with hypertension
- Management of periodontitis is a form of preventative treatment for hypertension
- P. gingivalis found in Alzheimer's disease sufferers' brains
- More susceptible to periodontitis, alveolar bone loss, increased pocket depth, and increased BOP in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
- Oral bacteria may be found in amniotic fluid, placenta, and umbilical cord
- Periodontitis may relate to premature and low birth weight babies
- S. mutans in mothers may develop childhood caries in infants
- periodontitis related bacteria are found in 50% of preeclampsia placental samples
Summary
- The oral microbiome is a complex community maintaining homeostasis.
- Dysbiosis is an imbalance linking to systemic diseases through inflammation, bacteremia, and genetic susceptibility.
- Periodontal disease is strongly associated with various systemic diseases (cardiovascular, diabetes, and pregnancy outcomes).
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
This quiz explores the oral microbiome, its composition, and its critical role in health. Learn about the various species present, methods for measuring the microbiome, and the implications of dysbiosis in disease. Test your knowledge on the intricate balance of oral bacterial communities.
