How Oral Health Can Influence Your Gut Microbiome: The Hidden Two-Way Connection

When your gut microbiome is healthy, your body can work in harmony and your gut bacteria will be actively supporting you. However, when the bacteria in your gut is out of balance, bad bacteria can thrive, leading to issues throughout your body.

Interestingly, there is a direct link between your oral health and your microbiome health. It makes sense, since the mouth is directly connected to the gut, but not everyone knows that your microbiome health can also impact your oral health.

With this information in mind, we’re looking at how your gut health can show up in your oral health, and how issues with your oral health can also trigger problems in the gut.

The link between oral health and gut health

The two systems are directly linked since the mouth connects to the stomach and is the starting point of the digestive tract. What you put in your mouth is naturally going to impact your stomach.

Your gut health can also play a part in your oral health, since conditions such as acid reflux can damage tooth enamel. When your gut microbiome is out of balance, this can trigger body-wide inflammation that can impact your gums. This can provide the ideal conditions for gum disease to thrive.

Gut health can also trigger immune responses that impact your bone health, which can affect the structures that hold your teeth in place.

A healthy gut will also help to promote saliva production, which is essential for neutralising harmful bacteria and preventing cavities.

And remember that the connection goes both ways. If you have issues with your teeth that prevent you from chewing correctly, you might find yourself swallowing food before it is ready to pass into the stomach. This can trigger stomach problems, including acid reflux, which will have an impact on your oral health.

Poor oral hygiene can also lead to excessive levels of bacteria passing into your digestive tract and your bloodstream. Both of these issues can disrupt your gut microbiome.

How can you protect your oral health and gut at the same time?

Instead of thinking of each part of your body in isolation, try to see it as a connected whole. This will help you to see how supporting one area can support another, and will avoid the risk of neglecting any area of your health.

With good oral hygiene, you can protect yourself from bacteria build up in the mouth. This should include brushing twice a day, flossing, and regular trips to the dentist. If there are issues with your oral health that are impacting your wider health, your dentist will be able to help you.

Another simple way to protect your gut health and oral health is by enjoying a healthy and varied diet. This should be packed with whole foods and limit intake of inflammatory processed foods. This will help to support your oral health and your gut health at the same time.

Probiotic food can help you to maintain a healthy gut microbiome, and many will also help to protect your teeth. Foods like yoghurt and kefir are not only rich in probiotics, but they also contain calcium and phosphate to help protect enamel.

Final thoughts

If you’re suffering from bad breath, repeated bouts of acid reflux, gum disease or digestive problems, your dentist might be able to help you to get to the heart of these issues. Book a checkup today to find out how these symptoms might be linked.