The oral microbiome is highly intricate, hosting billions of bacteria and other microorganisms that form biofilms on various oral surfaces. An imbalanced ecological relationship between the microbial community and the host can lead to various oral diseases. This narrative review explores the current understanding of the correlation between the microbiome and oral diseases. The main body of this manuscript is divided into seven parts, including a review of current research on oral microbial colonization and early life development, an introduction to five common oral diseases related to microorganisms, and a discussion on the relationship between dental caries and periodontal disease at the microbial level. Our aim in presenting this review is to offer a valuable resource for further research on the role of oral microorganisms in diagnosing and treating oral diseases. The oral microbiome's significant impact and diversity characteristics on health and disease have been recognized; however, there remains a severe lack of systematic understanding of its functions, host interactions, and environmental factors. Comprehensive research is urgently needed to elucidate the mechanisms that maintain its ecological balance, providing a scientific foundation for the precise prevention and control of oral diseases. This review comprehensively synthesizes current knowledge regarding oral microbial dysbiosis in the context of the major oral diseases mentioned and proposes a conceptual framework grounded in microbial ecology to elucidate disease progression and guide therapeutic strategies.
Kang et al. (Sun,) studied this question.