From The Mouth to the Gut: The Oral Microbiome's Role in Promoting Gastrointestinal Disease

Authors: Houston K , Alessandro ND and Johnson DA

DOI: 10.23880/ghij-16000222

Volume 10, Issue 1

Abstract

The traditional thoughts about oral microbial health have centered around the risks for dental caries, gingivitis and periodontal disease. There has been however ever-increasing data that oral health has significant implications for gastrointestinal health (GI) with strong evidence links the oral microbiome (which includes bacteria, fungi, virus, archaea), with an ever-increasing spectrum of metabolic, inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. The oral cavity hosts a diverse range of microorganisms that form a complex ecosystem known as the oral microbiome. While traditionally associated with pathologic roles in local conditions like dental caries and periodontal disease, there is growing evidence that disturbances in the oral microbiome can contribute to systemic inflammation and GI disease development, The risks for causality include direct effects of the dysbiotic microbiome, as well as inflammatory cytokine upregulation and metabolic byproducts, all of which can have both local and systemic effects. Altered mucosal integrity can facilitate translocation via systemic spread of these adverse factors directly to tissues and organs well beyond the oropharynx. Awareness of the role of the oral microbiome role maintaining oral health should be a new cornerstone of clinical care to potentially prevent, resolve or mitigate a wide array of systemic GI diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and metabolic associated inflammatory and fibrotic liver disease.

Keywords: Microbiome; Oral Health; GI Disease; Cancer; IBD; Liver Disease; Cirrhosis

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