23rd American World Dentistry Congress

Research now links the microbial diversity of the microbiome to several systemic diseases. Diversity refers to the variety of organisms inhabiting the microbiome. Low microbial diversity in the gut has been linked to irritable bowel syndrome and obesity. High diversity in the vagina has been linked to vaginosis. The mouth also shows the high diversity of microbes. What

are its implications for research and everyday dental practice? Research shows the within-subject variation in the microbiomes

of the mouth, the gut, the vagina, and the skin are less than the variation between subjects. This suggests universal antimicrobial

treatments of these sites will be extremely challenging, including the use of dentifrice, oral rinses and oral sprays to the mouth.

This presentation offers new criteria for the selection and use of oral care products. What happens between dental visits is as critical as what happens during the dental visit. Dental hygienist and dentists work to remove dental plaque, tartar, and calculus

from the teeth during scaling and root planning (SRP). Yet, biofilms, such as dental plaque, regrow rapidly and there is no natural process of removal. The microbes inhabiting the biofilms are acid-genic; they produce acids that etch and erode tooth enamel. The produce volatile sulphur compounds that are the precursors of both system and gum disease. And they provide the

insult to tissue that leads to inflammation. Our emerging understanding of the nature of oral biofilms and the oral pathogens that inhabit them have broad implications of clinical practice, oral hygiene instruction, and home oral care. Our remarks consider how current understanding of the oral microbiome, pathogenesis, and oral biofilms may shape future research and practice.