We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
The role of the oral microbiota in chronic non-communicable disease and its relevance to the Indigenous health gap in Australia.
- Authors
Handsley-Davis, Matilda; Jamieson, Lisa; Kapellas, Kostas; Hedges, Joanne; Weyrich, Laura S.
- Abstract
Background: Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders (hereafter respectfully referred to as Indigenous Australians) experience disproportionately poor health and low life expectancy compared to non-Indigenous Australians. Poor oral health is a critical, but understudied, contributor to this health gap. A considerable body of evidence links poor oral health to increased risks of other chronic non-communicable conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and poor emotional wellbeing. Main: The oral microbiota is indisputably associated with several oral diseases that disproportionately affect Indigenous Australians. Furthermore, a growing literature suggests direct and indirect links between the oral microbiota and systemic chronic non-communicable diseases that underpin much of the Indigenous health gap in Australia. Recent research indicates that oral microbial communities are shaped by a combination of cultural and lifestyle factors and are inherited from caregivers to children. Systematic differences in oral microbiota diversity and composition have been identified between Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals in Australia and elsewhere, suggesting that microbiota-related diseases may be distinct in Indigenous Australians. Conclusion: Oral microbiota research involving Indigenous Australians is a promising new area that could benefit Indigenous communities in numerous ways. These potential benefits include: (1) ensuring equity and access for Indigenous Australians in microbiota-related therapies; (2) opportunities for knowledge-sharing and collaborative research between scientists and Indigenous communities; and (3) using knowledge about the oral microbiota and chronic disease to help close the gaps in Indigenous oral and systemic health.
- Subjects
AUSTRALIA; CHRONIC disease risk factors; DIABETES risk factors; BEHAVIOR modification; HUMAN microbiota; CARDIOVASCULAR diseases risk factors; CHRONIC kidney failure; CULTURE; HEALTH behavior; HEALTH services accessibility; HEALTH status indicators; ORAL hygiene; HEALTH of indigenous peoples; WELL-being; HEALTH literacy; INDIGENOUS Australians; NON-communicable diseases; DISEASE risk factors
- Publication
BMC Oral Health, 2020, Vol 20, Issue 1, pN.PAG
- ISSN
1472-6831
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s12903-020-01308-y