Oral Microbiome: A Gateway into Systemic Diseases

The human mouth is said to be a mirror of a person’s health and serves as a host to an array of microorganisms that play a crucial role in both disease and health. Different sites in the oral cavity harbour distinct genera of microorganisms, which have been meticulously explored over the years and thoroughly investigated to meet the needs of scientific organisations and research centres in establishing the association between oral microbiomes and systemic diseases. Systemic diseases are often linked to disruptions in the microbial population, and certain conditions appear to be related to oral bacteria. These processes may impact or reflect overall human health. Systemic pathophysiology can broadly be governed by immune and inflammatory factors, virulence factors of pathogens, and systemic dissemination. The oral microbiome, on one hand, acts as a protective barrier by reducing the population of pathogenic bacteria; on the other hand, it can itself function as a pathogenic entity, exacerbating or accelerating existing pathologies. Therefore, understanding the dysbiosis of the oral flora and its involvement in systemic diseases is of great importance. The present review highlights the pathways and subsequent impact of the oral microbiome on systemic health and disease.