Metagenomics is the genomes of the total microbiota found in nature. Metagenome libraries were constructed by directly extracting DNA from environmental samples, Such as soil, oceans, human gastrointestinal tract and mouth, etc., and transforming to surrogate host. The libraries were screened for novel bioactive compounds or genes. Therefore, Metagenomics can effectively detect oral microbial community structure, and also can enormously amplified the space of microbial resource utilization and enhanced the opportunity of obtain novel bioactive compounds. This review included the research progress of the methods of metagenomic and the application of metagenomic study in the oral microbiota.
