Microbial Etiology and Prevention of Dental Caries: Exploiting Natural Products to Inhibit Cariogenic Biofilms

Abstract

Dental caries is one of the most common microbe-mediated oral diseases in human beings. At present, the accepted etiology of caries is based on a four-factor theory that includes oral microorganisms, oral environment, host, and time. Excessive exposure to dietary carbohydrates leads to the accumulation of acid-producing and acid-resistant microorganisms in the mouth. Dental caries is driven by dysbiosis of the dental biofilm adherent to the enamel surface. Effective preventive methods include inhibiting the cariogenic microorganisms, treatment with an anti-biofilm agent, and sugar intake control. The goal is to reduce the total amount of biofilm or the levels of specific pathogens. Natural products could be recommended for preventing dental caries, since they may possess fewer side effects in comparison with synthetic antimicrobials. Herein, the mechanisms of oral microbial community development and functional specialization are discussed. We highlight the application of widely explored natural products in the last five years for their ability to inhibit cariogenic microorganisms.

Molecular Screening and Analysis Reveal Novel Oral Site-Specific Locations for the Cariogenic Pathogen Scardovia wiggsiae

“…The ability for SW and other Bifidobacteria to metabolize glucose apart from the fluoride-inhibited enolase and lactic acid-producing pathway through a shunt allowing metabolic activity and the production of acetate to continue has been identified as an important virulence mechanism [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Because the incorporation of fluoride into toothpastes, mouthwashes and topical applications is an important feature of anti-cariogenic oral health strategies, understanding the prevalence of SW and other organisms that may be resistant to fluoride at SM-inhibitory concentrations as well as understanding the oral sites and locations for the aggregation of this organism and methods for altering biofilm composition become increasingly important [ 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”

A Novel Small Molecule, LCG-N25, Inhibits Oral Streptococcal Biofilm

“…According to the ecological plaque hypothesis, dental caries is more associated with microbial disequilibrium rather than the virulence properties of single species ( Kuramitsu and Wang, 2006 ; Li et al, 2010 ; Samaranayake and Matsubara, 2017 ). One of the major concerns on the topical use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials as anticaries measures is the possible cause of oral microbial dysbiosis ( Chen et al, 2020 ). CHX as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent can effectively inhibit most of oral microbes but with poor selectivity, which might impose adverse effects on the oral microbial ecology after long-term use ( Tokajuk et al, 2017 ; Sakaue et al, 2018 ).…”

Antibiofilm Potential of Medicinal Plants against Candida spp. Oral Biofilms: A Review

“…As an opportunistic pathogen, this yeast can also cause disease when the host’s immune system is debilitated by the appearance of pathologies such as diabetes mellitus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, and by the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, among others [ 16 ]. Additionally, as they are one of the largest acid producers in the oral cavity, Candida fungi can also be at the origin of dental caries through a localized infectious process [ 17 , 18 , 19 ].…”