You’ve probably heard about our gut microbiome and its important role in our health, but did you know that around 20 billion bacteria live in our mouths?
In just 1 mL of our saliva, there are about 100 million microorganisms. Considering we swallow about 1 liter of saliva per day, this bacteria can easily move to other parts of the body. Any imbalance or overgrowth of bad bacteria in the mouth will also affect the balance of our gut as the 2 microbiomes are inextricably linked.
Good oral health and a balanced oral microbiome are a key piece to having good overall health and vitality. In this article, we’ll explore what vitamins are good for teeth and gums, as well as how to improve oral microbiome activity.
What are the signs of a well balanced oral microbiome?
If you’re wondering how to improve oral microbiome activity, there are several methods. A well-balanced oral microbiome is essential for maintaining optimal oral health, and there are several key indicators that can help you determine if your mouth is in a state of healthy equilibrium:
- Pink, firm gums
- No bleeding when brushing, flossing or during professional cleanings
- No visible plaque
- No cavities
- Well lubricated oral tissues
- Clean tongue
- Pleasant breath
What are the signs of oral imbalance (dysbiosis)?
Oral imbalance, also known as dysbiosis, can manifest through various signs and symptoms that indicate a disruption in the delicate balance of the oral microbiome:
- Red, puffy, smooth gums
- Visible plaque
- Coated tongue
- Bad breath
- Visible caries or fillings/crowns present
- Early loss of baby teeth due to decay
- Dry mouth
What are the major influences on our oral microbiome?
Several factors play a significant role in shaping and influencing our oral microbiome, which can have a profound impact on our overall oral health:
- Diet: refined carbohydrates, sugars and low fiber diets all lead to the growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth
- Oral hygiene: brushing and flossing help disrupt the biofilms (dental plaque) Conventional mouthwash can upset balance by killing both harmful and beneficial bacteria, ultimately allowing bad bacteria to overgrow
- Family: sharing food/drinks and kissing creates shared oral microbiomes
- Salivary flow: less salivary flow increases pH of saliva and feeds microbes
- Stress: stress contributes to chronic inflammation and negatively impacts our oral and gut microbiome
- Exercise: physical activity upregulates beneficial gut/oral bacteria and enhances good microbial diversity
- Toxic load: heavy metal accumulation, such as mercury in dental amalgams, pesticides like glyphosate, and fluoride are all toxic to the body and damaging to the oral and gut microbiome
- Root canal teeth: these teeth are dead and are reservoirs for infections
What are foods and supplements that optimize gut and oral health?
What vitamins are good for teeth and gums? What foods and supplements benefit oral health? Consider the following:
- Prebiotics (resistant starches/fiber)
- Probiotics (fermented foods and probiotic supplements)
- Polyphenols (beneficial plant components high in antioxidants, found in berries, green tea, resveratrol, dark chocolate, cranberries, cherries, EVOO, pomegranate)
- Healthy fats (coconut oil, olives, olive oil, grass fed butter/ghee, avocados, avocado oil, flax oil, cod liver oil, MCT oil)
- Organic, fiber rich produce (avocados, brassica vegetables, nuts, seeds, leafy greens, seaweed, mushrooms)
- Pasture raised, sustainable meats and bone broth
- Wild caught, sustainable seafood (Alaskan salmon, shrimp, squid, oysters, clams, mussels, sardines, anchovies)
- Vitamins A, D3 and K2, Vitamin C, B vitamins, Magnesium, Iron and Zinc for healthy teeth and gums
What are foods that harm our gut and microbiome health?
While certain foods can promote gut and microbiome health, there are also several dietary culprits that can harm the delicate balance of our digestive system and oral microbiome:
- Sugar
- Soft drinks
- Gluten
- Starchy veggies (white potatoes, corn)
- Conventional dairy
- Refined oils (soybean, canola, corn, peanut, cottonseed, safflower, sunflower, grapeseed, partially hydrogenated vegetable oils)
- GMO’s
- Produce laden with pesticides like Glyphosate
- Alcohol
- Ultra processed foods
How are biofilms involved in oral dysbiosis and periodontal disease?
Healing oral dysbiosis is about more than just brushing and flossing. It is also necessary to address biofilms (dental plaque), which cause tooth decay and chronic gum disease.
When we think of bacteria, we tend to think of free floating organisms. However, these only constitute about 10% of organisms, while approximately the other 90% of bacteria form colonies as a survival mechanism. They excrete a sticky matrix called extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) around their colonies to defend themselves from the immune system and antimicrobials.
If you’ve seen Harry Potter, think of Harry’s invisibility cloak; the biofilm allows the microbes to hide out safely inside while they multiply their numbers.
About 80% of all microbial infections develop biofilms beginning in as little as 2 weeks from onset. Biofilm bacteria are also extremely difficult to treat — they can resist up to 5,000 times the antibiotic concentration that would normally be needed to resolve infections.
What natural ingredients and products are the most effective?
Botanicals and essential oils are the most effective against biofilms. Essentials oils may also prove to be the most useful in multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. Oils like oregano, tea tree, galbanum, clove, myrrh and lavender prevent adhesion by disrupting or destroying the biofilm components. Phenolics such as thymol interact with surface proteins of bacteria, interrupting the initial attachment phase of biofilm formation.
These natural ingredients are effective at cleaning teeth, removing biofilm plaque and freshening breath, yet they are also gentle and great for sensitive teeth. They are found in the following clinically studied products:
1. Dentalcidin Botanicals Oral Microbiome Toothpaste Gel by Biocidin Botanicals
- Broad spectrum botanicals and essential oils including Tea Tree, Spearmint, Peppermint, Cinnamon, Lavender, Oregano, Galbanum, and Clove
- Assists in removing biofilms and plaque for healthy teeth and gums
- Zeodent silica assists in gentle cleansing and promotes whitening
- Free of sugar, fluoride and artificial flavors and colors
- Perfect for daily use in adults and children
- Dentists also recommend concurrent use of Dentalcidin LS as an oral rinse for increased support where needed. See below.
2. Dentalcidin LS Liposomal Oral Care by Biocidin Botanicals
- Liposomal Biocidin in 1 oz pump
- Concentration solution for additional oral support
- Broad spectrum botanicals and essential oils including clove and myrrh fight biofilms, plaque and mouth odors
- CoQ10 and quercetin for healthy oral tissue, help reduce swelling and speed repair
- Pleasant taste, can be used by children and adults
- Pilot studies indicate results in 4-6 weeks
- 1-2 pumps, swish for 1-2 minutes then spit
Conclusion
How to improve oral microbiome activity depends on many things, but one thing is for sure – maintaining a well-balanced oral microbiome is crucial for overall health and wellness. A diet rich in prebiotics, probiotics, polyphenols, healthy fats, and organic, fiber-rich produce can support both gut and oral health. It’s also important to know what vitamins are good for teeth and gums, such as vitamins A, D3, K2, C, B vitamins, magnesium, iron, and zinc. By using natural, clinically-studied products like Dentalcidin toothpaste and liposomal rinse, which contain broad-spectrum botanicals and essential oils, you can effectively remove biofilms and plaque, promoting healthy teeth and gums.
Sources:
- Alia Khan-Elhady, FNTP. Breaking Up is Hard to Do, the Sticky Icky World of Biofilms. Biocidin Botanicals. https://biocidin.com/blogs/blog-archive/breaking-up-is-hard-to-do-the-sticky-icky-world-of-biofilms
- Ariana Ebrahimian, DDS. Do You Kiss Your Mama With That Mouth? Oral Microbiome Summit: Exploring the Science Behind the Smile. https://biocidin.com/blogs/blog-archive/oral-microbiome-summit-exploring-the-science-behind-the-smile
- David Jockers, DNM, DC. 5 Body Signs of Nutritional Deficiencies. https://drjockers.com/5-body-signs-nutritional-deficiencies/
