Salivary bacteria could highlight susceptibility to oral diseases in diabetes

Researchers may have uncovered differences in the salivary microbiota of pediatric patients with and without Type 1 diabetes.

In a study published in the Journal of Dentistry, the researchers assessed the microorganisms present in the unstimulated saliva samples of patients with Type 1 diabetes and healthy controls aged 4 to 15 years who underwent oral examinations at baseline and after a follow-up of one year.

The researchers found that the patients with Type 1 diabetes had a higher abundance of bacteria in the genera Prevotella, Fusobacterium, Capnocytophaga, Alloprevotella and Campylobacter at baseline and Leptotrichia and Fusobacterium after one year; whereas controls had a higher abundance of Rothia and Abiotrophia bacteria after one year.

The findings indicated that Type 1 diabetes could increase the likelihood of oral diseases. Further studies are needed to identify preventive oral health care strategies in this patient population.

Read more: Journal of Dentistry

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