Oral microbiology studies the bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live in the mouth, forming biofilms. The interactions between different microorganisms can affect oral health, and removing all microbes may not be the best solution. Researchers are exploring the use of beneficial bacteria or antimicrobial substances to alter the balance of microbes in the mouth.
Oral microbiology is the study of bacteria, fungi and viruses that colonize the mouth. These tiny human flora often live tightly packed in gelatinous masses known as biofilms. Although specific strains of bacteria have traditionally been thought to be responsible for oral pathology, causing gum disease and tooth decay, oral microbiology is complex. The actions and effects of one microorganism can influence those of another, and the entire colony forms its own little ecosystem within the oral cavity. Scientists are continuing to learn more about the significance of the different types of microbes found inside healthy and unhealthy mouths.
The study of oral microbiology is made more difficult because many of the microorganisms that colonize the mouth do not grow under laboratory conditions. In recent times, advances in bacterial identification have made it possible to collect and identify microorganisms from their DNA. This technique has been used in the human microbiome project, which aims to map all bacteria normally present in the body. It has been established that the number of different microorganisms in the mouth is more than 700.
Interactions between different microorganisms can mean that some microbes produce factors that inhibit or promote the growth of others. The bacterium known as S. mutans, known for producing acid that causes tooth decay, may be less of a health hazard if it resides near another bacterium that produces an alkaline substance. Those bacteria that tend to be the first colonizers of the mouth have special abilities that allow them to attach themselves to teeth and gums, while later arrivals rely on attaching themselves to the first settlers.
As researchers continue to learn more about oral microbiology, it appears that simply removing plaque, which is the substance that contains microorganisms, may not be the best answer to gum and tooth disease. Removing all microbes leaves a space that could be colonized by more harmful microorganisms. This could replace a balanced mix of bacteria that may not have posed a health threat, as the potentially harmful effects of some microbes have been neutralized or inhibited by others around them.
Some oral microbiology researchers have suggested that beneficial bacteria could be used to alter the balance of microbes within the mouth. If live bacteria could be introduced into the oral cavity, which would inhibit the growth of acid-producing microbes and harmlessly replace them, this could help reduce dental caries. Another method of removing harmful bacteria would involve attacking them with antimicrobial substances. These would be attached to molecules that only bind to harmful species.
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