The Effect of Denitrification in the Human Dental Biofilm on Oral Tissues
Luay Thanoon Younis *
Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Malaysia.
Mohamed Ibrahim Abu Hassan
Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Malaysia.
Tara Bai Taiyeb Ali
Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kalua Lumpur, Malaysia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Global oral health surveys reveal that periodontal disease and dental caries affect human populations throughout the world. Denitrification plays both positive and negative roles in these disease processes by producing by-products that alter the oral environment, change the oral ecological balance, and the oral tissue immune response. Nitrate reduction may have a detrimental effect on the tooth supporting structures if the by-products of reduction are not neutralized. However, the nitrogen oxide by-products are beneficial in reducing dental caries. In this paper, we review the process of denitrification and its effect on the oral tissues.
Keywords: Denitrification, salivary nitrate, dental caries, periodontal disease