We found that alcohol consumption is related to overall oral microbiome community composition and to the abundance of specific oral taxa. Heavy drinking may influence bacterial composition, including potential depletion of beneficial commensal bacteria and increased colonization of potentially pathogenic bacteria. Such changes potentially contribute to alcohol-related diseases, including periodontal disease, head and neck cancer, and digestive tract cancers, but further research is needed to relate alcohol-related composition changes to disease phenotypes. The taxa we have identified can be further investigated to tease out their potential relationship with underlying oral health status and to elucidate their potential role in alcohol-related health consequences. Future studies should also investigate the impact of alcohol drinking on the metagenomic (functional) content of the oral microbiome. Improved understanding of the causes and health impacts of oral dysbiosis can lead to microbiome-targeted approaches for disease prevention.
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