Keys To A Healthy Microbiome- Your Mouth Mirrors What Is Happening In Your Body

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KEYS TO A HEALTHY MOUTH (ORAL MICROBIOME)

Did you know that your mouth mirrors what is happening in your body? 

For more than forty years, I observed well-intentioned patients who told me they spent “hours in the bathroom” on their oral-hygiene regimen, but they continued to be prone to dental decay and gum disease. Nutrition always seemed to be a cornerstone of oral health and critical in helping keep the pH and microbial terrain in balance.

Healing the body helps heal the mouth, and vice versa. While bacteria are often blamed for problems like tooth decay and gum disease, there’s no such thing as good bacteria or bad bacteria. Bacteria either behave well or poorly, depending on the condition of their environment (acidic or alkaline). Maintaining homeostasis (balance) within the oral microbiome is slightly more involved than brushing your teeth after dinner and calling it a day.

Symptoms that often indicate an imbalanced oral microbiome include bad breath, bleeding gums, and frequent tooth decay. Each of these symptoms is a sign of an imbalance that is connected to the microbiome being too thick, called a hypertrophic biofilm OR too thin (atrophic biofilm) which results in mouth ulcers and sensitivity.

It’s important to include interdental cleansing—whether with floss, interdental brushes, or picks—as part of your oral-hygiene routine.  Constant disturbances in the mouth can cause the oral microbiome to be in a continual state of imbalance. Disturbances can include harmful oral-care products, a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar, a low pH in the mouth, and stress. 

Take an inventory of what oral care products you are using and eliminate products that might strip the microbiome.  This includes detergent based toothpastes and mouthwash containing alcohol. I recommend staying away from ingredients like:

  • Sodium laurel sulfate (SLS)
  • Sodium fluoride
  • Triclosan
  • Artificial sweeteners (such as sodium saccharin, aspartame, xylitol, and erythritol)
  • Artificial color dyes (often made from coal tar)
  • Propylene glycol
  • Diethanolamine (DEA)
  • Microbeads (tiny solid plastic particles)
  1. STRESS- Stress causes a series of events that, in turn, stresses the oral microbiome. First and most important, it causes a decrease in salivary flow. Saliva is the lifeblood of the mouth, and it is essential for the oral immune system and continuous remineralization of teeth. The oral microbiome interacts with saliva by carrying ionic minerals like calcium and phosphorus from saliva to the surface of tooth enamel. Stress also causes a shift in the pH.
    1. Nutrition or Diet is another cause of imbalance. Carbohydrates and sugar produce acid that eats away at the enamel and causes tooth decay. A diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar can cause a shift in the oral microbiome from slightly alkaline to a more acidic pH. This causes a shift in the corresponding environment in the mouth. Instead eat foods that are alkalizing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant-rich, along with supporting supplements. For example, eating organic fruits and vegetables and eating and drinking fermented foods—like kombucha, sauerkraut, and dill pickles—on a regular basis; drinking herbal teas and coffee in moderation; and using filtered water for cooking and drinking.
  • Healthy Exercise- Movement and high-intensity exercise techniques for as little as fifteen minutes a day can help decrease the stress-induced, inflammatory flight-or-fight response. Exercise has been shown to increase circulatory function—including for teeth and gums—and improve immune system competence. The increase in circulation that is gained during exercise has been shown to improve the prevention of decay by improving the dentinal tubular fluid flow, which is a continuous movement of nourishing interstitial liquid that flows from the tissues inside the tooth outward through the enamel and into the mouth. Blood supply is the major route via which all organs are nourished and defended, and one major cause of disease and malfunction is restricted blood supply. In the teeth, the blood supply ends in the capillaries within the dental pulp, and it has been observed that restricted blood supply in teeth increases tooth decay.

Stress Management- As previously mentioned, stress plays an important role in salivary function, as well as muscular control, TMJ, and overall tooth and gum health. Stress can contribute to grinding your teeth—or bruxism—which can wear down and flatten your teeth. Constant grinding depletes your enamel, causing your teeth to become more sensitive. Grinding can also impact the joints and muscles in the jaw and neck, which can lead to jaw pain and clicking or popping sounds. Stress can also dry out your mouth, which can contribute to gum disease. I advise patients to begin incorporating yoga and meditation into their lives not only to improve their breathing and other body vitals but also to help keep their microbial flora in balance.