Oral Microbiome Balance 

Like the gut, a balanced oral microbiota — a state known as eubiosis — supports healthy gums, strong teeth, and immune resilience. When disrupted (dysbiosis), it can trigger issues like caries, periodontitis, and chronic inflammation, with links to diabetes, heart disease, and other systemic conditions.

Think of the oral microbiome as a city that hosts specialized microbial communities. These residents build a complex, organized ecosystem. In a healthy city, balance is maintained:

• Biofilm – acts as infrastructures, organizing microbial communities and providing stability while shielding inhabitants from external threats.
• Microbial communities function like residents of a dynamic city with specialized skills – inflammation regulators, pH regulators, balance controller.

But when biofilm accumulates unchecked — much like urban congestion leading to pollution and disorder — balance breaks down.

Harmful bacteria thrive, oxygen and pH drop and inflammation flares – creating local damage and systemic risk. Just like cities’ protection systems, immune systems vary. Strong ones restore order, vulnerable ones can spiral into chronic imbalance. Maintaining microbial balance is key to long-term oral health.

Our white paper outlines how to evolve care without abandoning the fundamentals. Mechanical cleaning remains core — but NEW adjunctive strategies are raising the bar:

• Lifestyle and diet modifications
• Microbiome-supportive prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics

Prof. Wim Teughels is a globally recognized expert in periodontology and oral microbiology, serving as Professor at KU Leuven and clinical periodontist at UZ Leuven. He leads cutting-edge research on oral microbial strategies, with over 200 peer-reviewed publications and multiple international awards. As a key figure in global periodontal education and editorial boards, he bridges scientific innovation with clinical excellence.