Yes, unfortunately, unlike Vegas, every cell in your body will find out.
Let’s talk microbiome: the oral cavity houses over 700 species of bacteria, or microbes, that play an important role in the biology of health and disease. These microbes are composed mostly of beneficial bacteria that in health, are oxygen loving or aerobic. Any change in response to our environment, diet, weight, hormones and even state of mind will influence it. They provide the first line of defense. And the host’s immune system controls this bacterial colonization. Our oral health is directly related to the types (and amount) of good and bad bacteria in our mouths.
Generally speaking, most Americans today are well aware that these species found in our mouths travel thru our blood stream, our breathing and our digestion to the rest of our body. New research has correlated this and the fact that these pathogens have been linked to Alzhiemer’s, Autoimmune diseases, like arthritis and psoriasis as well as several cancers. There is even new research linking gum disease and COVID-19: hospitalized COVID-19 patients with underlying gum disease are more likely to suffer respiratory failure.
In 2000 the US Surgeon called the mouth “the mirror of health and disease in the body”. It’s not a closed system. This is why a well trained Biological Dentist has a pretty good general idea of a person’s health in just that first Comprehensive Examination.
If there is an imbalance of the oral flora, you can be sure there is an imbalance in the gut which will lead to inflammation, illness and disease. For instance, P.gingivalis is found in patients with gum disease (Periodontitis) and dysbiotic gut. Dental plaque is the material that sticks to your teeth. Plaque is a biofilm on the surfaces of our teeth and depending on the concentration ratio of “good” to “bad” bacteria, we are healthy and in equilibrium or not. One might even say that the biofilm is good, until its not.
How do I know if I have “good” vs “bad” bacteria?
This is why Oral DNA testing is one of the best tools we have. I encourage oral salivary testing in the office. It’s a simple, painless salivary test that, in a few days gives us a detailed description of the types and quantities of flourishing bacteria present… the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Once this information is in, we can design a plan of action with options to enhance the good, lower the bad, and eliminate the ugly. Every patient is different and unique, but with each individual case, and patient involvement a plan of action is designed. We have many tools from, essential oils, laser therapy, ozone treatments and even simple supplementations developed in conjunction with our PCPs, functional practitioners, nutritionists, chiropractors and wellness coaches.
70% of our immunity is in our gut, however, immunity actually starts in our mouths.
Before the Industrial Revolution our guts were better equipped to fight off inflammation, viruses and fungi. Unfortunately our highly processed diets, refined sugars, and chemical and pharmaceuticals in our foods and water, have immensely changed how our bodies fight inflammation. Antibiotic resistant SuperBugs are almost impossible to fight off, even though bacterial resistance is a natural process.
Statistics show that SuperBugs kill someone every 15 minutes…and that’s just in the US. There IS promising research, tho, with macrophages found in our guts that have the ability “eat up “ these superbugs.
The Oral Microbiome is essential to health as it can influence both oral and systemic diseases. In health, your teeth feel “squeaky clean” and your gums are pink. So this Plaque or Biofilm in our mouths contains the blueprint to our health or lack of. Plaque is easily removed when it is soft. However, if left to harden (calculus), it becomes tartar and needs to be scraped off. When this tartar is present, the body reacts to “attack it”, therefore inflammation. Chronic inflammation leads to the accumulation of the “bad” and “ugly” bacteria to colonize in deep pockets. If left untreated, this will inevitably lead to tooth loss and eventually dysbiosis in the body. So you see in essence, small amounts of bacteria can create small problems. Large amounts of bacteria will create large problems. Be proactive and not reactive.
The microbiome can also influence insulin. Insulin not only regulates blood sugar, it may protect you from cancer by regulating cell division. Also protects from telomere shortening, and even mediating metabolic signals in heart related diseases and obesity. Obesity and insulin resistance has been extensively studied. The current research shows that gut microbiome is a major contributor to metabolic diseases. Any alterations in the “normal” relation of specific bacteria will interfere with intestine permeability, biochemical pathways and development of obesity which is also influenced by the microbiome composition.
A word about probiotics…
Probiotic supplementation is a billion dollar industry. The “new” terms are not only probiotics and prebiotics, but postbiotics as well. Don’t be fooled by the amount of strains (billion/trillion). The type of strain is more important and that depends on each individuals needs. Certain species/strains are specialized for digestion or immunity strength, others help with blood pressure, brain clarity and weight regulation. I encourage patients to visit their Primary Physician or Functional Doctor for an evaluation that discovers Root Cause and therefore develops a plan of action.
The highly colonized microbiome in your mouth determines your quality of health. In fact, the research suggests 98% of the microbiome is beneficial bacteria and only 2% is not.
My takeaway Pearls:
Visit your biological Dentist regularly—The earlier you intervene, the greater the success
Consume whole foods (non-processed)
Choose REAL probiotic foods—kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, Kombucha
Eliminate daily mouthwashes—they decrease your Nitric Oxide levels
Get out in the sun! Vitamin D is excellent for your teeth and bones
Reduce refined sugars—they feed funguses (candida) and cancer.
Take more Vitamin C—my favorite is liposomal
Super-charge your immune system—certain herbs can give you a boost. Olive Leaf extract is one of my favorites.
But remember: your diet is not only what you eat. Its what you listen to, what you read, what you watch, the people you hang around, with AND what you speak…. EVERY SINGLE CELL IN YOUR BODY IS LISTENING!!!
STAY HEALTHY! IT’S ALL CONNECTED!