A Comparative Study of Oral Microbiome in Neonates – Review

Author(s): Rutwick Surya Ulhas and Mridul Umesh*

Abstract: Oral microbiota is observed to play a key role in the health and physiology of humans. The oral microbiome is seen to vary in its colony diversity and composition with age. Various studies have identified factors that affect oral microbiota in neonates most important among which is the mode of delivery (either cesarean or vaginal) and the initial mode of nutrition (either breastfed or formula fed). A thorough studying and reviewing of the literature reveal that the oral microbiota of vaginally delivered neonates are richly diverse, health-inducing and increases the innate immunity of the infant while the oral microbiota of cesarean-delivered neonates is mainly composed of harmful pathogenic microbes. Studies show that vaginal seeding is an effective means to partially restore the vaginal microbiota in cesarean-delivered neonates. Secondly, studies have shown that the enzyme xanthine oxidase present in breast milk reacts with its substrates xanthine and hypoxanthine present in neonatal saliva as a result, antimicrobial hydrogen peroxide is produced which inhibits the growth of pathogenic and cariogenic bacteria in infant oral cavity. On the other hand, the formula milk supports no such reaction. This review describes the above two factors with great detail, reasoning and examples compiling numerous research studies in the past.

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