A bacterial infection that affects the periodontium in various ways is called periodontitis. Bacterial plaque triggers the inflammatory response in the host, which damages the host's tissue. In response to microbial invasion, it is now understood that the immune system uses a family of pattern-recognition receptors termed Toll-like receptors as a mechanism to initiate an inflammatory response. TLRs, or tolllike receptors, were first identified in the drosophila and released antimicrobial compounds to fight fungus. The primary sensors of the innate immune response are toll-like receptors. Understanding how toll-like receptors contribute to gingivitis and periodontitis aids in the treatment of periodontal disease using the host modulation therapy approach.
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