How to Boost Gut Health by Improving Oral Care Practices

A healthy gut is not just about what you eat; it’s also about the health of your mouth. New research has highlighted the connection between oral and gut health. It is important to prioritize oral care practices to boost gut health. In this post, you will learn how maintaining a clean mouth can significantly improve gut health. You can start improving your health today, one brush at a time.

The Healthy Mouth

In a healthy mouth, there are various microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, that don’t cause disease. Instead, they help keep your mouth healthy by stimulating the oral glands to produce antimicrobial-rich saliva, which helps eliminate harmful pathogens that enter the mouth. They also compete with foreign pathogens for space and nutrients, ensuring that these pathogens cannot survive. The diversity of these normal microorganisms enhances their function.

Each time you swallow, oral bacteria are transferred to the gut. This transfer does not occur through the bloodstream, so the likelihood of any pathogens causing disease is reduced due to the acidic nature of the stomach. However, if these organisms from the mouth travel to other places, such as the gut, through the bloodstream as seen in cases of periodontitis, it could lead to several health issues. Imbalances in the diversity of microorganisms can also cause problems.  The mouth and the gut are directly connected, so inflammation in the mouth can lead to inflammation in the gut.

Causes Of Poor Oral Health

Smoking, drinking, and infrequent tooth brushing can lead to oral dysbiosis, which is a disturbance of the oral microbiome affecting its diversity and function.  Foreign disease-causing microbes are then able to outcompete the normal flora and cause disease in the mouth. The healthy mouth is significantly altered in such situations.

Poor oral health is also linked to conditions such as periodontitis and cavities. The inflammatory process associated with periodontitis exposes blood vessels to the microbiome of the mouth resulting in systemic translocations to various organs.

Impact of Oral Health on Gut

The gut also contains the local microbiome, which provides protection and assists in digestive functions. For example, certain bacteria in the gut produce essential vitamins for the body. The activities of some colonic bacteria also improve gut health. The stomach is also acidic, making it hostile to foreign pathogens. However, some stubborn pathogens can invade the stomach and disrupt the flora. Disruption of the gut microbiome by the translocation of oral bacteria can lead to diseases such as…

stomach cancer

colorectal cancer

peptic ulcer

Impact on other organs

Translocation of the oral microbiome to other organs can also cause

atherosclerosis,

arthritis

Caring For Your Mouth

It is important to brush your teeth regularly to maintain oral health and prevent the buildup of harmful bacteria. Reducing alcohol consumption and limiting smoking also contribute to good oral health. This will also improve gut health in the long run.

It is recommended to brush your teeth at least twice a day and to have a comprehensive oral examination by a dentist at least once a year. A healthy mouth contributes to a healthy gut.

It is also advisable to eat a variety of foods to provide the right environment for the biodiversity of microbiota in both the mouth and the gut.