Abstract

The human mouth is a complex environment, heavily colonized by diverse communities of microorganisms which establish dynamic, biofilm communities on various surfaces within the human oral cavity. Biofilm-related oral diseases are among the most common diseases linked to serious systemic diseases. The effective management of oral diseases remains a global challenge, which demands the discovery of innovative therapeutic approaches for eradicating biofilm-associated infections. Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a novel approach for targeting oral biofilms, and this paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent in vitro, in vivo, ex vivo and clinical studies, within the last four years (2022-2025). It intends to investigate the potential applications of different types of NPs in disrupting multispecies biofilms related to a range of oral diseases including periodontitis, dental caries, endodontic diseases, peri-implantitis and oral candidiasis. In general, nanoparticles, alone or conjugated with various substances, demonstrated effective antimicrobial properties against oral multispecies biofilms, making them a promising strategy for management of biofilm-related oral diseases. Novel strategies are being highlighted with the use of NPs, such as the application of phototherapy and magnetic fields, aiming for complete eradication of biofilms. While most of these approaches have not been implemented clinically, they hold promise for enhancing the management of oral diseases. Further research and more clinical trials are required to confirm their clinical efficacy and long-term safety.

Key words: Antimicrobial; Multispecies biofilm; Nanoparticles; Oral biofilm; Oral diseases.