MICROFLORA OF THE ORAL CAVITY: COMPOSITION, FUNCTIONS, ROLE IN MAINTAINING HEALTH AND PATHOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

The microflora of the oral cavity is one of the most complex and dynamic microbial ecosystems of the human body. Normally, it forms a stable community of microorganisms involved in maintaining colonization resistance, metabolic balance, local immune defense, and preservation of tissue homeostasis. The oral cavity includes several ecological niches — the surface of teeth, tongue, gingival furrow, cheek mucosa, palate, saliva — each of which is characterized by a specific microbial profile. Under the influence of exogenous and endogenous factors, the composition of microbiocenosis can change, which leads to the development of dysbiotic conditions. The most studied clinical consequences of dysbiosis are caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, halitosis and candidiasis of the oral cavity. In recent years, special attention has been paid to the relationship of the oral microbiome with systemic diseases, including cardiovascular pathology, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel diseases and some neurodegenerative processes. The purpose of the article is to summarize current data on the composition of the oral microflora, the mechanisms of its physiological action, factors that disrupt microbial balance, as well as the clinical significance of changes in the oral microbiome. The article shows that the microflora of the oral cavity is not a simple set of microorganisms, but is a highly organized biosystem closely related to the state of local and general health. Understanding the patterns of formation and transformation of the oral microbiota is important for the prevention, early diagnosis and pathogenetically based treatment of dental diseases.