Bacteria Library

Explore oral bacteria and their systemic health connections

Category

Body System Impact

Life Stage Relevance

Showing 52 bacteria

Pathogenic

Campylobacter rectus

C. rectus (Cr)

PRIMARY LOCATION

Subgingival plaque, deep periodontal pockets

ASSOCIATED WITH

Low birth weight and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)

Preterm birth

Cardiovascular inflammation and atherogenic contribution

+1 more

Pathogenic

Parvimonas micra

P. micra (Pm)

PRIMARY LOCATION

Subgingival plaque, deep periodontal pockets; also identified in colorectal tumor tissue

ASSOCIATED WITH

Colorectal cancer (tumor-tissue enrichment)

Periodontal tissue destruction

Cardiovascular inflammation

+1 more

Pathogenic

Peptostreptococcus anaerobius

P. anaerobius (Pa)

PRIMARY LOCATION

Subgingival plaque, deep periodontal pockets; also identified in colorectal tumor tissue

ASSOCIATED WITH

Colorectal cancer (tumor-tissue enrichment)

Periodontal tissue destruction

Deep abscesses and polymicrobial infections

+1 more

Pathogenic

Prevotella intermedia

P. intermedia (Pi)

PRIMARY LOCATION

Subgingival plaque, periodontal pockets

ASSOCIATED WITH

Adverse pregnancy outcomes (preterm birth, low birth weight)

Pregnancy gingivitis / pregnancy tumors

Aspiration pneumonia and lung infections

+1 more

Pathogenic

Streptococcus mutans

S. mutans (Sm)

PRIMARY LOCATION

Tooth surfaces, dental plaque, oral biofilm

ASSOCIATED WITH

Parkinson's disease

Dental caries

Neuroinflammation

+1 more

Beneficial

Actinomyces viscosus

Also called: A. viscosus

PRIMARY LOCATION

Tooth surfaces, gumline, tongue

ASSOCIATED WITH

Root surface caries (when overgrown)

Opportunistic

Eikenella corrodens

Also called: E. corrodens

PRIMARY LOCATION

Gum pockets, oral mucosa

ASSOCIATED WITH

Periodontitis

Abscesses

Endocarditis (rare)

+1 more

Pathogenic

Eubacterium nodatum

Also called: E. nodatum

PRIMARY LOCATION

Deep periodontal pockets

ASSOCIATED WITH

Severe periodontitis

Bone loss

Links to systemic inflammation

Pathogenic

Prevotella nigrescens

Also called: P. nigrescens

PRIMARY LOCATION

Gum pockets, subgingival biofilm

ASSOCIATED WITH

Periodontitis

Pregnancy gingivitis

Inflammatory signaling

Beneficial

Lactobacillus acidophilus

Also called: L. acidophilus

PRIMARY LOCATION

Oral mucosa, tongue, saliva

ASSOCIATED WITH

Supports gut and immune health

Can contribute to enamel erosion in high amounts

Pathogenic

Neisseria meningitidis

Also called: N. meningitidis

PRIMARY LOCATION

Throat, nasopharynx (not typical oral bacteria)

ASSOCIATED WITH

Meningitis

Sepsis

Rarely detected in routine oral testing

Pathogenic

Mycoplasma genitalium

Also called: M. genitalium

PRIMARY LOCATION

Throat (via sexual transmission)

ASSOCIATED WITH

Pharyngitis

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Infertility

+1 more

Pathogenic

Treponema pallidum

Also called: T. pallidum

PRIMARY LOCATION

Oral sores, mucous membranes (syphilis infection)

ASSOCIATED WITH

Syphilis

Congenital syphilis

Neurosyphilis

+1 more

Beneficial

Veillonella parvula

Also called: V. parvula

PRIMARY LOCATION

Tongue, saliva, dental plaque

ASSOCIATED WITH

Protective against cavities when balanced

Opportunistic

Gemella morbillorum

Also called: G. morbillorum

PRIMARY LOCATION

Oral mucosa, dental plaque

ASSOCIATED WITH

Periodontitis (minor contributor)

Endocarditis (rare)

Opportunistic

Abiotrophia defectiva

Also called: A. defectiva

PRIMARY LOCATION

Oral mucosa, dental plaque

ASSOCIATED WITH

Endocarditis (rare)

Generally harmless

Opportunistic

Haemophilus influenzae

Also called: H. influenzae

PRIMARY LOCATION

Throat, nasopharynx, oral cavity

ASSOCIATED WITH

Respiratory infections

Otitis media

Sinusitis

+1 more

Beneficial

Streptococcus gordonii

Also called: S. gordonii

PRIMARY LOCATION

Tooth surfaces, dental plaque

ASSOCIATED WITH

Protective against cavities

Endocarditis (rare)

Opportunistic

Capnocytophaga ochracea

Also called: C. ochracea

PRIMARY LOCATION

Oral mucosa, gum tissues

ASSOCIATED WITH

Opportunistic infections in immunocompromised individuals

Periodontitis

Opportunistic

Candida albicans

Also called: Candida

PRIMARY LOCATION

Oral mucosa, tongue, dentures, throat

ASSOCIATED WITH

Oral thrush

Angular cheilitis

Denture stomatitis

+1 more

Pathogenic

Fusobacterium nucleatum

Also called: F. nucleatum, Fn

PRIMARY LOCATION

Gum pockets, tongue, oral biofilm

ASSOCIATED WITH

Periodontitis

Preterm birth

Pregnancy complications

+2 more

Pathogenic

Tannerella forsythia

Also called: T. forsythia, Tf

PRIMARY LOCATION

Deep gum pockets

ASSOCIATED WITH

Severe periodontitis

Bone loss

Cardiovascular disease (emerging link)

+1 more

Pathogenic

Treponema denticola

Also called: T. denticola, Td

PRIMARY LOCATION

Deep gum pockets, inflamed periodontal tissue

ASSOCIATED WITH

Severe periodontitis

Bone loss

Cardiovascular inflammation

+1 more

Beneficial

Neisseria subflava

Also called: N. subflava

PRIMARY LOCATION

Oral mucosa, tongue, saliva

ASSOCIATED WITH

Generally harmless

Rare opportunistic infections

Opportunistic

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Also called: S. pneumoniae, Pneumococcus

PRIMARY LOCATION

Throat, nasopharynx

ASSOCIATED WITH

Pneumonia

Meningitis

Sepsis

+1 more

Pathogenic

Streptococcus pyogenes

Also called: S. pyogenes, Group A Strep

PRIMARY LOCATION

Throat, oral mucosa

ASSOCIATED WITH

Strep throat

Rheumatic fever

Scarlet fever

+1 more

Beneficial

Streptococcus salivarius

Also called: S. salivarius

PRIMARY LOCATION

Tongue, saliva, oral mucosa

ASSOCIATED WITH

Supports oral health

Reduces pathogen colonization

May protect against ear and throat infections

Beneficial

Streptococcus oralis

Also called: S. oralis

PRIMARY LOCATION

Tooth surfaces, tongue, oral mucosa

ASSOCIATED WITH

Supports oral health

Endocarditis (rare)

Opportunistic

Streptococcus intermedius

Also called: S. intermedius

PRIMARY LOCATION

Gum pockets, oral mucosa

ASSOCIATED WITH

Dental abscesses

Head and neck infections

Brain abscess (rare)

Opportunistic

Granulicatella adiacens

G. adiacens

PRIMARY LOCATION

Dental plaque, oral mucosa, throat

ASSOCIATED WITH

Endocarditis (rare)

Bacteremia

Generally commensal in healthy individuals

Pathogenic

Streptococcus mutans

Also called: S. mutans

PRIMARY LOCATION

Tooth surfaces, dental plaque

ASSOCIATED WITH

Dental cavities

Tooth decay

Rare link to endocarditis

Pathogenic

Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Also called: N. gonorrhoeae

PRIMARY LOCATION

Throat (via sexual transmission)

ASSOCIATED WITH

Gonorrhea

Pharyngitis

Pelvic inflammatory disease

+1 more

Pathogenic

Chlamydia trachomatis

Also called: C. trachomatis

PRIMARY LOCATION

Throat (via sexual transmission)

ASSOCIATED WITH

Pharyngitis

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Infertility

+2 more

Beneficial

Rothia mucilaginosa

Also called: R. mucilaginosa

PRIMARY LOCATION

Oral mucosa, saliva, tongue

ASSOCIATED WITH

Generally harmless

Rare opportunistic infections

Pathogenic

Streptococcus agalactiae

Also called: S. agalactiae, Group B Strep, GBS

PRIMARY LOCATION

Throat, oral cavity (also vaginal/rectal colonizer)

ASSOCIATED WITH

Neonatal sepsis

Neonatal pneumonia

Neonatal meningitis

+1 more

Beneficial

Streptococcus mitis

Also called: S. mitis

PRIMARY LOCATION

Oral mucosa, teeth, throat

ASSOCIATED WITH

Generally protective

Endocarditis (rare, in susceptible individuals)

Beneficial

Streptococcus cristatus

Also called: S. cristatus

PRIMARY LOCATION

Tooth surfaces, tongue

ASSOCIATED WITH

Supports oral health

Beneficial

Actinomyces naeslundii

A. naeslundii

PRIMARY LOCATION

Tooth surfaces, tongue, oral mucosa, early biofilm colonizer

ASSOCIATED WITH

Root caries (when ecology is disrupted)

Generally protective in balanced microbiome

Opportunistic

Campylobacter gracilis

Also called: C. gracilis

PRIMARY LOCATION

Periodontal pockets, subgingival plaque

ASSOCIATED WITH

Periodontitis

Gum inflammation

Pathogenic

Porphyromonas gingivalis

Also called: P. gingivalis, Pg

PRIMARY LOCATION

Deep gum pockets, subgingival biofilm

ASSOCIATED WITH

Severe periodontitis

Alzheimer's disease

Cardiovascular disease

+3 more

Pathogenic

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans

Also called: A. actinomycetemcomitans, Aa

PRIMARY LOCATION

Gum pockets, particularly in aggressive periodontitis

ASSOCIATED WITH

Aggressive periodontitis

Rapid bone loss

Endocarditis

+2 more

Pathogenic

Streptococcus sobrinus

Also called: S. sobrinus

PRIMARY LOCATION

Tooth surfaces, dental plaque

ASSOCIATED WITH

Dental cavities

Tooth decay

Beneficial

Haemophilus parainfluenzae

Also called: H. parainfluenzae

PRIMARY LOCATION

Oral mucosa, throat, respiratory tract

ASSOCIATED WITH

Generally harmless

Endocarditis (rare)

Respiratory infections (rare)

Beneficial

Streptococcus sanguinis

Also called: S. sanguinis

PRIMARY LOCATION

Tooth surfaces, gumline, dental plaque

ASSOCIATED WITH

Protective against cavities

Rare link to endocarditis in susceptible individuals

Beneficial

Streptococcus parasanguinis

Also called: S. parasanguinis

PRIMARY LOCATION

Tooth surfaces, oral mucosa

ASSOCIATED WITH

Supports oral health

Pathogenic

Epstein–Barr Virus

EBV

PRIMARY LOCATION

Salivary glands, throat, oral epithelial cells, immune cells (B lymphocytes)

ASSOCIATED WITH

Infectious mononucleosis

Oral hairy leukoplakia (immune suppression)

Chronic fatigue states (research association)

+2 more

Opportunistic

Helicobacter pylori

H. pylori

PRIMARY LOCATION

Stomach lining, can be detected in dental plaque, may persist in the oral cavity as a reservoir

ASSOCIATED WITH

Gastritis

Stomach ulcers

Acid reflux (association)

+2 more

Opportunistic

Staphylococcus aureus

S. aureus (including MRSA strains)

PRIMARY LOCATION

Nasal passages, throat, tongue surface, dental plaque, can colonize oral wounds or sores

ASSOCIATED WITH

Oral wound infections

Post-dental procedure infections

Skin and soft tissue infections

+3 more

Pathogenic

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1

HSV-1 (Oral Herpes Virus)

PRIMARY LOCATION

Lips, oral mucosa, tongue, throat, nerve tissue (latent between outbreaks)

ASSOCIATED WITH

Cold sores

Oral ulcers

Painful mouth blisters

+2 more

Opportunistic

Klebsiella pneumoniae

K. pneumoniae

PRIMARY LOCATION

Throat, back of the tongue, dental plaque, can colonize oral secretions

ASSOCIATED WITH

Respiratory infections

Pneumonia

Hospital-acquired infections

+2 more

Opportunistic

Enterococcus faecalis

E. faecalis

PRIMARY LOCATION

Root canal systems, deep dentin layers of teeth, areas of previously treated teeth, occasionally in periodontal pockets

ASSOCIATED WITH

Persistent root canal infections

Failed endodontic treatment

Chronic dental abscess

+2 more

Beneficial

Lactobacillus reuteri

L. reuteri

PRIMARY LOCATION

Oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract

ASSOCIATED WITH

Reduced inflammation

Improved periodontal health

Enhanced immune function

+1 more