From environment to dental plaque: The emerging impact of microplastics on oral cavity

Sina  Soleimani; Seyed Rohollah  Havaei

doi:10.61882/jcbior.6.4.343

Authors

Sina Soleimani Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Seyed Rohollah Havaei 2. Department of Endodontics, Dental Materials Research Center, Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3662-8185

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61882/jcbior.6.4.343

Keywords:

Microplastics, Oral health, Dental plaque, Biofilm, Polystyrene

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as pervasive environmental contaminants, raising increasing concern for human exposure and health risks. These particles are now detected in multiple daily sources, including drinking water, food products, indoor and outdoor air, and certain oral-care formulations, making the oral cavity one of the earliest and most consistent points of contact. Evidence from environmental, marine, and gastrointestinal microbiology demonstrates that MPs readily act as abiotic substrates capable of supporting microbial attachment, promoting biofilm formation, and altering microbial behavior. Recent studies suggest that similar processes may occur within the oral environment, where MPs can integrate into dental plaque, modify its structural organization, and influence interactions among bacterial and fungal communities. MPs may also affect microbial virulence, extracellular polymeric substance production, and horizontal gene transfer, raising concerns regarding their potential to exacerbate cariogenic or periodontal dysbiosis. Despite these emerging insights, current knowledge remains limited by the lack of in vivo studies, insufficient mechanistic investigation in oral tissues, and major analytical challenges in reliably detecting MPs within complex oral samples. These gaps hinder the ability to assess causal pathways and clinical significance. This review synthesizes current interdisciplinary evidence on the interaction between MPs and oral biofilms and highlights priority areas for translational research. A deeper understanding of these interactions is essential to clarify the role of MPs as novel environmental determinants of oral disease and to inform future preventive and regulatory strategies.

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