Gut bacteria and its impact on our health is a big talking point in popular science these days. However, few realise that our mouths also have ecosystems that are crucial for good teeth and gums.

WHAT’S IN YOUR MOUTH?

Like the digestive system, our mouths contain their own population of bacteria. These microorganisms tend to be unique to the mouth and different to that living in the gut. There are even tiny individual ecosystems living within different parts of the mouth.

Oral bacteria typically form biofilms, where they clump together to form a slimy mass, which sticks to teeth, gums and the tongue. Healthy biofilms that have the right bacterial balance help promote the remineralisation of teeth.

Unhealthy biofilms, where high levels of less desirable bacteria reside, increase the acidity of the mouth and cause demineralisation of teeth. These biofilms also form dental plaque which causes tooth decay and damage to gums.

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WHAT DO ORAL BACTERIA DO?

To understand what beneficial oral bacteria do, let’s first look at the role of unwanted microbes in dental health.

We always have a mix of desirable and less desirable bacteria in our mouths. It is only when the less beneficial microbes proliferate that problems occur.

This often happens when our diet is too rich in carbohydrate foods, such as cakes, biscuits and bread. These feed the ‘bad’ bacteria as well as changing the acidity of your mouth, which encourages bacterial overgrowth, leading to poor dental health.

Good bacteria help to keep these undesirable bacteria in check by crowding them out and by producing substances that create a hostile environment for bad bacteria. It is advised to wash out the bad bacteria to get your teeth troubles sorted with the dentist in greenbelt.

DO’S AND DON’TS FOR CULTIVATING HEALTHY ORAL BACTERIA

There are plenty of easy ways you can promote a good balance of bacteria in your mouth. If you’re at all concerned about your dental health, your Parramatta dentist will advise you.

DO’S

·         DRINK PLENTY OF WATER

Saliva in the mouth does far more than just add moisture. It contains substances that keep the bacterial population in check and acts to sweep microorganisms away, stopping them from sticking to surfaces in the mouth.

·         FLOSS REGULARLY

Flossing gets rid of food particles that may get caught between teeth, and which encourage bacterial overgrowth.

·         CONSIDER USING A TONGUE SCRAPER

Tongue scrapers, either on the back of some toothbrushes or as separate devices, are good ways to remove bacteria, including biofilms and help to reduce bad breath.

DON’TS

·         DON’T OVERUSE MOUTHWASHES

Mouthwashes are indiscriminate in their bacteria-killing abilities, so you will reduce good bacteria as well as the bad. Any imbalance is likely to cause you problems.

You can buy natural mouthwashes that contain herbal antiseptics, such as olive leaf extract. However, these will still deplete wanted as well as unwanted bacteria, and create an imbalance.

If you’re concerned about bad breath and bacterial overgrowth, consider using a tongue scraper instead.

·         AVOID SWEET FOODS

Sweets, cakes and biscuits contain sugars that feed and encourage unwanted bacteria.

·         REDUCE STRESS

If you’re too stressed, you produce less saliva, which is why we tend to have a dry mouth when nervous.

·         DON’T CHEW ARTIFICIALLY-SWEETENED GUM

Chewing gum helps to keep teeth clean. However, artificial sweeteners in the gum harm your population of good bacteria.

Use a gum that contains natural sugar substitutes instead, such as stevia.