Niu et al. (2024) found that the oral-gut translocation of viable P. gingivalis functions as a fuel connecting periodontitis and insulin resistance, involving the reduction of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands and the inactivation of AhR signaling, in a periodontitis mouse model using oral ligature plus P. gingivalis inoculation. Here, AHR is linked to periodontitis.