Microbiome Augmented Therapeutic Interventions for a Healthy Oral System

Nada Tawfig Hashim

Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.

The human body is colonized with diverse microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, archaea, and eukaryotes that maintain a symbiotic relationship with the human body. The genetic material encoded by these microbes is termed as “microbiome”. The microbes located at each body site have a crucial role in maintaining host health. As the oral microbes directly interact with the external environment, they have a role in protecting the host's body from pathogens. However, any alterations in the normal oral microbiome composition lead to the onset of oral diseases. The microbiome composition of a healthy oral cavity needs to be studied in detail to have a thorough understanding of the role of microbes in oral health. A dental practice should be destined to maintain a healthy oral microbiome. Conventional medications such as antibiotics that alter the microbiome should be replaced with new therapeutic approaches. The current chapter explains the oral microbiome and its role in developing microbiome therapeutics for a healthy human oral system.

Keywords: Microbiome therapeutics, Oral health, Dysbiosis, Oral diseases, Dental caries, Gingivitis, Periodontitis, Prebiotics, Probiotics.