When we think of any health issue, most people think of it in isolation. For example, we often hear the term “mental health” and think that this only affects our brain and mood. Likewise, with a thyroid condition or heart problem. However, all these conditions and many others are all intricately linked — and this includes our oral health.
What is happening in our mouth will affect the rest of the body. Scientists learned long ago that certain bacteria in the mouth can contribute to cardiovascular disease, as well as irritable bowel conditions, neuro-degenerative disorders, and pregnancy/reproductive complications.
There exists a two-way relationship between chronic health conditions and poor oral health. These include obesity, diabetes, metabolic fatty liver disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.
How is this possible?
It’s all about the microbiome. You may think that we only have a microbiome in our gut, but did you know that your oral microbiome is second in line when it comes to biodiversity? That’s right. Everyone has a veritable colony of over 700 different microbial species in their mouth living on teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue. A healthy oral microbiome has a protective function, while imbalances or ‘bad’ bugs are what can cause decay, gum and bone loss, as well as halitosis (bad breath), lichen planus and even gut disorders.
How does oral microbiome infect our gut?
Your oral microbiome lives in your saliva. As to number of microbes, our mouth can accommodate around 20 billion bacteria. Each one millilitre of saliva contains 100 million bacteria and we swallow around one litre of saliva daily. This means we swallow up to 100 billion bacteria from the mouth every single day! Freaked out yet?
What can you do?
The answer to keeping your mouth healthy lies in good oral hygiene.
- Brush your teeth at least twice daily after food using a quality toothbrush and cleaning from red (gum) to white (tooth) or use an electric toothbrush.
- Floss to remove food debris that gets trapped between teeth. Preliminary results from a recent study have found that flossing before brushing just once a week may lower the risk of stroke and atrial fibrillation. Flossing was linked to improved overall health including lower blood pressure, healthier cholesterol levels, and a reduced risk of diabetes.
- Reduce or avoid consumption of sweet/high sugar foods, especially those containing high fructose corn syrup.
- Increase consumption of fresh whole foods such as organic vegetables and fruit.
- And have regular 6-monthly check-ups with your dentist.
Lifestyle factors that affect your oral microbiome include cigarette smoking, stress, and poor diet.
The main causes of oral cancer include lifestyle exposures such as tobacco, alcohol and HPV infection.
If you would like to check which bacteria live in your mouth, contact us for an oral saliva test.