Oral inflammatory diseases encompass a range of conditions where oral immune homeostasis is impaired. These diseases can be caused by infections, such as gingivitis and oral herpes, as well as by non-infectious inflammatory diseases or autoimmune conditions, including recurrent aphthous ulcer (RAU) and oral lichen planus (OLP). Additionally, some oral inflammatory disorders manifest as topical oral symptoms of systemic inflammatory diseases, such as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Syphilis. The pathogenesis of oral inflammatory diseases is complex and varied, with many aspects still unclear. Despite their high incidence and tendency to recur, most symptoms, such as non-erosive OLP and mild periodontitis, are tolerable. However, they can also cause prolonged damage to patients’ health.

Moreover, oral inflammatory diseases are often associated with systemic diseases. A substantial amount of epidemiological and experimental research suggests that oral inflammatory diseases can be significant risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory infections, endocarditis, and other systemic conditions. Increasing evidence shows that oral immune homeostasis is a crucial part of overall health and can both influence and be influenced by general health. For instance, periodontitis may exacerbate insulin resistance in diabetes patients through inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, the pathogenic bacteria of oral inflammatory diseases could promote tumor development. Conversely, systemic diseases can also impact oral immune homeostasis. Numerous studies have demonstrated that patients with systemic conditions such as anxiety, diabetes, and systemic lupus erythematosus have a higher incidence of oral inflammatory diseases compared to the general population.

All the above suggest that oral inflammatory diseases may serve as early warning indicators and valuable prognostic factors for systemic diseases. Therefore, exploring the causal associations and mechanisms between oral and systemic diseases through epidemiological, clinical, and biological research could aid in the early prevention and treatment of systemic conditions, providing new foundations and ideas for the joint prevention and control of oral and systemic diseases.

The purpose of this Research Topic is to collect the latest research advances on the causal associations and mechanisms between oral inflammatory diseases and systemic diseases. We welcome submissions of Original Research, Clinical Trials, Reviews, Systematic Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Hypotheses, and Theory articles related to, but not limited to, the following subtopics:

1. Assessing the causal effect between oral inflammatory diseases and systemic diseases using epidemiological or statistical methods.
2. Describing the causal association between oral inflammatory diseases and systemic diseases through clinical cohorts or real-world studies.
3. Elaborating on the mechanisms of the causal association between oral inflammatory diseases and systemic diseases with biological experimental studies.

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Frontiers in Immunology

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