Cariogenic microorganisms induce oral epithelial atypia through host-microbiome-high sugar diet interactions

Oral mucosal development during infancy is crucial because disruptions at this stage can compromise barrier function and increase susceptibility to oral diseases throughout life. The contribution of oral pathogens to oral mucosal development in infancy remains poorly understood. Here, we show that early-life co-infection with Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans under a sucrose-enriched diet perturbs oral epithelial homeostasis and is associated with atypical hyperplasia and parakeratosis of the tongue.