A new white paper, Rethinking oral healthcare: Exploring the resilience and modulation of the oral microbiome, investigates the latest science behind oral microbiota balance, challenges some traditional practices and outlines the path to more holistic, microbiome-friendly oral care for patients.
Published by GUM®, an oral care brand of Sunstar, and developed in collaboration with leading experts, Professor Egija Zaura of the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), and Professor Dr. Wim Teughels of KU Leuven Belgium, the paper reveals a growing body of research shifting the focus of oral care from eliminating bacteria to a smarter, science-backed approach: supporting microbial balance. This new understanding positions the oral microbiome as a key ally in preventive dentistry and a critical link to systemic well-being.
“Most oral microbes are not harmful, they’re actually essential for maintaining oral health,” says Professor Zaura. “Attempting to eliminate all microbes is not only impractical but also carries risks. Latest research points to a more effective strategy: fostering a balanced oral microbiota that supports beneficial microbes, while keeping pathogenic ones in check.”
Further areas covered in the newly released paper include the importance of oral microbiota, key factors that shape microbiota resilience, and modulation of the oral microbiota.
Latest research explored in the paper includes the dual role of the oral biofilm, saliva as a key regulator of microbial balance and oral health, and how immune fitness shapes susceptibility to dysbiosis (microbial imbalance) and oral disease.
Disruptions to oral microbial balance, particularly in patients with existing oral health conditions can lead not only to caries and periodontitis but may also elevate the risk and severity of systemic conditions such as diabetes and obesity.¹ So restoring microbial balance is key, not only for oral health, but for systemic health as well.
The white paper has also been developed to empower oral health professionals to guide patients toward optimal health and proactively explain how resilience within the oral microbiota can have either a positive or negative impact on their oral and general health. This includes advice on good oral hygiene techniques and how a healthy diet and lifestyle modulate their oral microbiota towards eubiosis (the optimal balance) and are the first essential steps to self-care.
Guidance on the additional use of prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics may further improve patients’ oral health and is also detailed in the paper. “Modern oral care goes beyond killing germs. It’s about nurturing a balanced microbiome that protects teeth, gums, and your whole body.” says Professor Teughels.
Rachel Chau, DSS, Medical Affairs Senior Manager, Sunstar, adds: “While solid oral hygiene – rooted in thorough mechanical plaque removal – remains fundamental, it’s exciting to see the evolution of oral care towards microbiome-informed strategies. By creating this white paper on the growing science that shows a balanced oral microbiome can help prevent oral and systemic disease, GUM® continues to focus on its mission to enhance the health of the mouth and body, bringing science-backed insights to support oral care professionals in managing their patients’ health.”
Dental professionals can download the free white paper from: https://page.sunstargum.com/rethinking-oral-health-whitepaper.html (The paper is being made available publicly for the first time after being previewed by a select number of oral care professionals from Sunstar’s network in May).
Reference
¹ Giordano-Kelhoffer B, Lorca C,March Llanes J, et al. Oral Microbiota, Its Equilibrium and Implications in the Pathophysiology of Human Diseases: A Systematic Review. Biomedicines 2022;10(8). doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10081803.
