Impact of Intermittent Fasting on Metabolic Syndrome and Periodontal Disease-A Suggested Preventive Strategy to Reduce the Public Health Burden

Nationwide exploration: assessing oral microbiome knowledge among dental professionals in Saudi Arabia and its implications for oral health care

BACKGROUND

The relationship between the microbiome and oral health is intricate, yet there is a lack of comprehensive knowledge regarding the microbiome's impact on oral health. Integrating knowledge regarding the oral microbiome and its significance in oral and systemic diseases holds profound implications for dental professionals in patient care and professional development. This study assessed dental professionals' oral microbiome comprehension and knowledge levels in Saudi Arabia and its implications for oral healthcare.

METHODS

Data were gathered using a cross-sectional design by administering a comprehensive online questionnaire to 253 dental professionals from diverse demographic backgrounds. The questionnaire, administered in English, was divided into four sections: (1) Microbiome awareness and understanding, (2) Diet, nutrition, and microbiome relationship, (3) Microbiome and oral and systemic diseases, and (4) Counselling, education, and implications. Statistical analyses were used to identify and understand underlying patterns, including descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, ANOVA, and post hoc tests. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient was applied to assess self-rated knowledge.

RESULTS

Of the 253 participants, 94.6% were familiar with the term "microbiome." Merely 13% of participants considered the oral microbiome to be the second most diverse, following the gut microbiome. About 39.9% of participants knew the connection between oral mucosal diseases and the oral microbiome. Furthermore, only 6.7% thought there was a connection between systemic diseases and the oral microbiome. Participant comprehension of oral microbiome questions averaged 9.19 out of 13, with 83.7% scoring "good". There were significant differences in knowledge scores among dental specializations (F = 7.082, P < 0.001) and years of professional experience (F = 4.755, P = 0.003). Significantly, 53.8% of participants had uncertain self-perceptions of their knowledge of the oral microbiome, while only 0.8% rated their understanding as 'very good'.

CONCLUSION

Our findings reveal that dental professionals have varying levels of awareness and comprehension of the oral microbiome. Despite widespread awareness, understanding its diversity and implications for oral and systemic health remains limited. It is essential to address these gaps in knowledge through future research and educational interventions, considering the vital part that dental professionals play in promoting oral health through personalised dietary recommendations, lifestyle changes, and hygiene practices. These initiatives may promote a robust oral microbial community, enhance patient outcomes, and advance oral healthcare locally and globally.

Mitochondria: It is all about energy

Mitochondria play a key role in both health and disease. Their function is not limited to energy production but serves multiple mechanisms varying from iron and calcium homeostasis to the production of hormones and neurotransmitters, such as melatonin. They enable and influence communication at all physical levels through interaction with other organelles, the nucleus, and the outside environment. The literature suggests crosstalk mechanisms between mitochondria and circadian clocks, the gut microbiota, and the immune system. They might even be the hub supporting and integrating activity across all these domains. Hence, they might be the (missing) link in both health and disease. Mitochondrial dysfunction is related to metabolic syndrome, neuronal diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and infectious diseases, and inflammatory disorders. In this regard, diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and chronic pain are discussed. This review focuses on understanding the mitochondrial mechanisms of action that allow for the maintenance of mitochondrial health and the pathways toward dysregulated mechanisms. Although mitochondria have allowed us to adapt to changes over the course of evolution, in turn, evolution has shaped mitochondria. Each evolution-based intervention influences mitochondria in its own way. The use of physiological stress triggers tolerance to the stressor, achieving adaptability and resistance. This review describes strategies that could recover mitochondrial functioning in multiple diseases, providing a comprehensive, root-cause-focused, integrative approach to recovering health and treating people suffering from chronic diseases.