Oral Hygiene: A Window to Overall Health

Did you ever imagine that your oral health may have a correlation with your overall health? Or problems in your mouth can affect the whole body? Your oral health is in fact more important than you might appreciate. I guarantee that we all have gone through at least one experience in life where we either backed off from talking to someone due to their bad breath (halitosis) or someone did that with us (now that’s embarrassing frankly). Interestingly, it is also the number one turnoff on a date (above smoking, yellow teeth, and rude behavior), and if intimacy is on the roster for the evening, your chances are in jeopardy! Minty solutions might seem a quick fix, but hey, who are you really kidding here? You still have a bad breath problem! For understanding the ins and outs of oral hygiene, let’s first understand how the health of your mouth, teeth, and gums can affect your general health.

The human oral cavity has a diverse microbial flora hosting over 700 species of bacteria and is only second largest to the gut microbiome. Little did you know that our oral cavity has a complex habitat where various microbes (bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa) colonize on the hard surfaces of the teeth and the soft tissues of the oral mucosa. These new discoveries would not have been possible without the advancements in the modern-day genomic technologies which have provided us with powerful means of studying the oral microbiome.

So, should I be scared of these bacteria and viruses in my mouth? The simple answer is – “No….but”. The oral microflora is generally harmless, but your mouth is the entry point to your stomach and some of these microflorae can also cause diseases. Usually, your body’s natural immunity and good oral hygiene (daily brushing and flossing) can keep these bacteria under control. However, without good oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections resulting in tooth decay and gum disease. These problems can cause impairment while eating, speaking and may also cause pain and bad breath to some extent.

Our saliva also plays a significant role in maintaining oral health by playing a part in keeping our soft and hard tissues healthy. It also helps to moisten and break down the food for ease in swallowing and enhances our ability to taste. When saliva flow is less than normal, oral health problems such as dental caries and oral infections can develop.  Certain medications such as diuretics, antihistamines, antidepressants, decongestants, and painkillers can reduce saliva flow resulting in microbial imbalance and may cause several infections. Other conditions that may be connected to oral health include eating disorders, certain cancers, and an immune system disorder that causes dry mouth (Sjogren’s syndrome).

Many oral health problems such as periodontal (gum) disease, dental caries, and others, begin in childhood and can be prevented through regular preventive dental care and counseling.  Brushing your teeth at least twice a day with a soft-bristled brush using fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily, using mouthwash to remove food debris, eating a healthy diet, and limiting food with added sugars are some of the ways to keep your oral hygiene in good shape. Also, don’t forget to schedule your regular dental check-ups and cleanings!

References:

1. Deo, Priya Nimish, and Revati Deshmukh. “Oral microbiome: Unveiling the fundamentals.” Journal of oral and maxillofacial pathology: JOMFP 23.1 (2019): 122. [Pubmed]
2. Gao, Lu, et al. “Oral microbiomes: more and more importance in oral cavity and whole body.” Protein & cell 9.5 (2018): 488-500. [Pubmed]
3. https://www.mayoclinic.org | Accessed Feb 25, 2021.  
4. www.ada.org | American Dental Association. Accessed Feb 25, 2021.
5. Photo credit – Anthony Shkraba

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