Re-discovering periodontal butyric acid: New insights on an old metabolite

• Butyric acid (BA) has both detrimental and beneficial function.
• BA concentration and tissue location influence BA function.
• Oral microbiome and host are affected by BA presence.

The oral microbiome is composed of detrimental and beneficial microbial communities producing several microbial factors that could contribute to the development of the oral microbiome and, likewise, may lead to the development of host diseases. Metabolites, like short-chain fatty acids, are commonly produced by the oral microbiome and serve various functions. Among the periodontal short-chain fatty acids, butyric acid is mainly produced by periodontopathic bacteria and, attributable to the butyrate paradox, is postulated to exhibit a dual function depending on butyric acid concentration. A better understanding of the interconnecting networks that would influence butyric acid function in the oral cavity may shed a new light on the current existing knowledge and view regarding butyric acid.