Lips, cheek, palate
• biomass restricted by desquamation • some surfaces have specialized host cell types
Tongue
• highly papillated surface • acts as a reservoir for obligate anaerobes
Teeth • non-shedding surface enabling large masses of microbes to accumulate (dental plaque biofilms) • teeth have distinct surfaces for microbial colonization; each surface (e.g. fissures, smooth surfaces, approximal, gingival crevice) will support a distinct microflora because of their intrinsic biological properties.