American Research Journal of Dentistry

The relationship between living organisms in our oral cavity and various diseases, such as dental caries or halitosis, has been well established for many years. In the past, traditional microbiology tools were only possible to deduce the relationships between certain specific bacteria and oral diseases. Today, the evolution of molecular biology, especially of DNA sequencing, and the progress of both bioinformatics and biostatistics allow the detection of uncultivable bacteria that might contribute to the diseases. The interaction among bacterial species can affect biofilm formation and behavior when it is confronted with adverse exogenous factors. Consequently, on health. close investigation of oral microbiota using metagenomics is mandatory to fully understand how to prevent oral diseases related to dysbiosis. Some recent studies have also underlined the putative link between oral and systemic health, emphasizing the importance of understanding oral microbiota and its potential modulations. This review includes (1) the summary of various methodologies for assessing oral microbiota identification, characterization and development, (2) the relationship between oral microbiota and systemic health based on existing animal and human studies, and (3) the possible ways to modulate oral microbiota for positive effects