Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative spiral bacterium found in the stomach. The bacterium colonizes the lining of the stomach and duodenum causing chronic inflammation, plus peptic ulcer disease as well as contributing to the development of stomach cancer. Chronic infection with H. pylori is found in approximately 50 per cent of the global population. H. pylori was first isolated about 30 years ago. However, the mechanisms of infection, reinfection, and its transmission routes are still not fully understood. Ambiguous results have also been obtained in studies on the presence of these bacteria in the oral cavity in patients with gastric H. pylori infections. Moreover, there is conflicting information on whether or not the oral cavity may be a significant reservoir of H. pylori. Studies on the prevalence of the bacteria in patients with various oral cavity diseases have also been conducted. No clear views have been articulated in this case, either. The objective of this paper is to present current literature reports concerning the presence of H. pylori in the oral cavity.

Key words: Helicobacter pylori, oral pathologies, peptic ulcer disease.