As dentists will tell you, there is a huge link between oral health and whole body health. But I never paid it much attention until I read about oral dysbiosis.
Dysbiosis, imbalance of bacteria, usually refers to the microbiome in the gut. This imbalance has been linked to almost every symptom and condition.
Oral dysbiosis is an imbalance of the bacteria in our mouths. We have a lot of bacteria in our mouths, and they can be unhealthy or out of balance too. And we swallow them all day long.
Oral dysbiosis is linked in research to:
- Heart disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis)
I have known for some time that Klebsiella, a type of inflammatory bacteria is common in the mouths and guts of people with Crohn’s disease.
Oral hygiene is imperative to preventing Oral Dysbiosis.
Those of us who want to improve our gut health or even just stay healthy, need to take care of our mouths!
- Oral Health Recommendations on a Daily Basis:
- Brush
- Floss
- Scrape tongue
- Chewable probiotics of a particular strain: S salivarius
- Antimicrobial oral solutions
Note: I am not an expert on mouth wash. But I do know that hydrogen peroxide is anti-microbial. I use a water pick and fill it with a mix of water and hydrogen peroxide. I want to get all that Klebsiella in between my teeth!