By: Dr. Robert Rawdin, Dr Samantha Rawdin
The oral microbiome is a complex ecosystem of microorganisms residing in the mouth, crucial for maintaining oral and systemic health. This blog aims to enlighten dental practice patients about the importance of a balanced oral microbiome, its impact on health, and its role in disease.
What is the Oral Microbiome?
The oral microbiome consists of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa that inhabit the mouth. It is the second largest microbial community in the human body after the gut. These microorganisms form biofilms on surfaces like teeth, gums, and the tongue, playing a vital role in oral health by preventing pathogenic invasions.
The Role of Oral Microbiome in Health
- Preventing Oral Diseases: Healthy microflora can prevent conditions like cavities and gum disease by outcompeting harmful bacteria.
- Supporting Systemic Health: The oral cavity acts as a gateway to the body. The microorganisms here can influence systemic health by interacting with other body systems.
- Oral Diseases: Conditions such as cavities and periodontal diseases are linked to an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria like Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis. These are common oral bacteria, but when there is an overgrowth of these cavities become more prevalent, gum disease will progress and there will be associated bad breath.
- Systemic Impacts: Dysbiosis can contribute to systemic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and even cancer by promoting inflammation and other pathways that lead to disease.
Oral Microbiome and Systemic Diseases
- Diabetes: Gum disease can exacerbate diabetes by increasing inflammation. Controlling gum disease can actually decrease the severity of diabetes.
- Cardiovascular Disease: Oral pathogens can enter the bloodstream through inflamed gums, contributing to heart disease.
- Cancer: Certain oral bacteria are linked to cancers like colorectal and pancreatic cancer.
Maintaining a Healthy Oral Microbiome
- Practice Good Oral Hygiene: Regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups help maintain microbial balance.
- Healthy Diet: A diet low in sugars and rich in nutrients supports beneficial bacteria. Sugar feeds the bad bacteria and allows them to do more harm by producing acids that cause cavities and gum disease.
- Avoid Overuse of Antibiotics: Antibiotics can disrupt microbial balance, leading to dysbiosis.