# Oral Microbiota and Type 2 Diabetes: Interactions, Potential Mechanisms, and Preventive Strategies

## TL;DR

This review explores how the oral microbiome interacts with type 2 diabetes, affecting inflammation and metabolism, and suggests ways to manage diabetes through oral health.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the bidirectional relationship between oral microbiota and T2DM, emphasizing novel mechanisms and preventive strategies.

## Key findings

- Oral microbiota dysbiosis contributes to systemic inflammation and insulin resistance in T2DM.
- Hyperglycemia and immune impairment in T2DM worsen oral diseases like periodontitis.
- Modulating the oral microbiota offers potential for T2DM prevention and integrative management.

## Abstract

The oral cavity harbors the second-largest and one of the most diverse microbial communities in the human body, playing a critical role in maintaining local and systemic health. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a chronic metabolic disease accounting for nearly 90% of all diabetes cases, has shown rapidly increasing global prevalence. Growing clinical and experimental evidence indicates a strong bidirectional relationship between oral microbiota dysbiosis and T2DM. Imbalanced oral microbial communities can contribute to systemic inflammation, insulin resistance, and metabolic dysregulation, while hyperglycemia and impaired immunity in T2DM promote oral diseases such as periodontitis, xerostomia, and mucosal infections. This review summarizes current research on the interactions between oral microbiota and T2DM, highlighting their clinical correlations, underlying mechanisms, and mutual influences on inflammation, microbial composition, and metabolic pathways. We also discuss emerging strategies for T2DM prevention and management through oral microbiota modulation. These insights may provide new perspectives for early diagnosis, targeted intervention, and integrative management of T2DM.