“Regulation of Metabolism and Inflammation: Links with Oral and Systemic Health”: Part I Host-Microbial Interactions

The oral cavity has one of the most complex microbial communities in the human body, harboring over 1000 species of microorganisms (Lamont et al., 2018). This microbial ecosystem interacts dynamically and bidirectionally with the host, influencing various physiological processes. Under normal conditions, the oral microbiome and host are in a state of equilibrium. However, disruptions in this equilibrium can lead to dysbiosis, triggering inflammatory responses. Dysregulated and unresolved inflammatory responses can progress to chronic inflammation, as seen in periodontitis. Emerging research suggests that there is a strong association between periodontitis and systemic diseases (Hajishengallis, 2022; Hajishengallis & Chavakis, 2021). It is believed that in periodontitis, systemic dissemination of inflammatory mediators and oral bacteria into the bloodstream can potentially contribute to the initiation and aggravation of systemic conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease, via trained immunity.