Abstract
The oral cavity is colonized by more than 700 bacterial species. They occur in the form of individual cells or form multispecies biofilms. The formation of biofilm, its abnormal growth combined with impaired functioning of the defense mechanisms of the body and disorders in the quantitative and qualitative composition of the oral microbiota can lead to the development of caries, gingival inflammation, parodontosis or peri-implantitis. The paper discusses the stages of biofilm formation as well as microbial interactions within this organized community. It also addresses the significance of multispecies biofilm in oral infections and, very importantly, the methods to combat it.
1. Biofilm – definition, formation stages, microbial communication within biofilm. 2. Biofilm in different parts of the human body. 3. Multispecies oral biofilm. 4. Oral infections associated with multispecies biofilm. 5. Prevention and methods of combating oral biofilm. 5.1. Prophylaxis and proper oral hygiene. 5.2. Alternative therapy of biofilm-related oral infections. 6. Summary