Oral Microbiome and Oral biofilm: Current concepts and caries associated bacteria

Abstract

Maintaining a diverse and interdependent microbial ecosystem in the oral cavity is crucial for preventing dental caries. When the oral ecosystem is disrupted by external factors, it leads to a state of microbial imbalance (dysbiosis), causing a shift in the oral microbial community towards disease. Advancements in modern technology have revealed that dental caries is not caused by a single bacterium, but rather by a complex interplay of multiple microbial species and contributing factors. This has led to a paradigm shift, reclassifying dental caries from an infectious disease to a non-communicable chronic disease. Consequently, dental caries prevention now focuses on restoring the imbalanced oral ecosystem back to its original state of equilibrium through various methods. In this brief review, we discussed our previous research on the association between novel bacteria and their potential roles and early childhood caries including anticipatory guidance and appropriate treatment.