Correlation between oral health and some common mucocutaneous conditions

INTRODUCTION: It is a well-known fact that oral and general health are directly related. Numerous systemic and dermatological conditions have oral manifestation and vice versa—the oral microbiome affects the general status. It has been noted recently that dental and particularly periodontal health could be a significant modifying factor in the etiopathogenesis of various mucocutaneous conditions, such as Behçet’s disease, psoriasis, lichen planus, mucous membrane pemphigoid, pemphigus, atopic dermatitis, etc. AIM: The current review article aims to evaluate the role of oral health in the course of some common dermatological conditions, determine the correlation if there is any, and find the research gaps in the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study is based on 88 keyword-matching articles. An electronic search using PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases was conducted until June 2022. We performed a meticulous analysis of the available data and gave some major guidelines for further research. RESULTS: Oral involvement is a common feature of various mucocutaneous diseases. What is still a subject of interest is whether and how poor oral health influences the course and prognosis of these conditions. It has been suggested that chronic periodontitis could be a significant modifying factor, considering its bacterial etiology. Some authors even claim that adequate periodontal treatment could lead to remission of the skin disease. CONCLUSION: There is strong evidence that general and oral health are closely related. Further research is still necessary to determine the exact role of periodontal status and oral hygiene in the etiopathogenesis of the above-mentioned dermatological conditions.