In a study, researchers looked into the relationship between atopic dermatitis (AD) and oral health, aiming to bridge the knowledge gap in understanding the oral microbiota in patients with AD compared with healthy controls. Involving 45 AD participants and 41 matched controls, the study assessed various oral health indices and conducted high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis on oral flora samples. Results unveiled significantly poorer plaque and oral hygiene indices in AD participants, along with higher oral microbial diversity compared with controls, suggesting an association between AD and altered oral microbiota.

Despite comparable demographic and clinical characteristics between AD patients and controls, the study highlighted distinct clustering of microbial communities and increased community diversity in AD patients, indicative of oral dysbiosis. Moreover, AD patients exhibited elevated levels of taxa associated with oral diseases and reduced abundance of bacteria linked to oral health. The findings underscored the importance of raising awareness among both patients and physicians about oral health in the context of AD.

Reference: Emma A. Association Found Between Atopic Dermatitis and Altered Oral Microbiome. Dermatology Times. Published December 11, 2023. Accessed April 24, 2024. https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/association-found-between-atopic-dermatitis-and-altered-oral-microbiome