The Mouth-Body Connection
Your mouth’s health impacts your holistic health. There are some direct links, such as between gum disease and heart disease, but many more indirect links exist, such as when poor oral hygiene leads to increased risk of infertility, brain fog, chronic inflammation, and even cancer.
There’s a bi-directional relationship between the health of your mouth and the rest of your body, especially your gut and immune system. As I like to say, the mouth is the gateway and a mirror to the entire body.
Let’s talk about how a healthy oral microbiome impacts your overall health, according to recent microbiome research.
Cavities (Dental Caries)
The relationship between your oral microbiome and dental caries is simple: a healthy oral microbiome should lead to fewer cavities.
If the homeostasis of your oral microflora is disrupted, Streptococcus mutans can get out of control. This pathogenic bacteria can demineralize even healthy teeth and cause cavities that require dental fillings.
At Rejuvenation Dentistry, we can use tools like the Sirona cone beam system to accurately assess the condition of your teeth and cavities.
Gum Disease (Periodontitis)
Inflammation caused by a dysbiotic oral microbiome can affect the soft tissue in your mouth. This allows pathogenic microbes to disrupt the supragingival (above the gum line) and subgingival (below the gum line) communities.
This dysbiosis in gum line microbes may lead to the release of harmful bacteria through the weakened gums into the bloodstream, causing further systemic disruptions throughout the rest of the body.
That’s why it’s important to protect the biofilm in your mouth through good oral hygiene and nutrition, eliminating dental plaque before it causes periodontitis, gingivitis, and other gum health problems.
Bad Breath (Halitosis)
Disruption of the microbial community in your mouth causes bad breath — even before you notice the symptoms. Since bad breath can impact social and romantic relationships, as well as self-image, it’s safe to say an unhealthy oral microbiome can even impact your social life.
Holistic dentistry looks at conditions like halitosis to ensure that you’re properly caring for your oral microbiome to avoid the development of bad breath.
Inflammation
Gut and oral microbial communities help keep your overall health in check. The dysbiosis of good oral bacteria can lead directly to chronic health issues like immune response dysregulation and body-wide inflammation.
A dysbiotic oral microbiome is linked to inflammation, which may lead to serious systemic health problems, including in your cardiovascular, digestive, immune, and nervous systems — plus periodontal diseases.
Heart Health
An impaired oral microbiome has a direct, widely recognized link to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), also called heart disease. Inflammation also makes CVD worse.
Over time, oral dysbiosis can contribute to heart problems including strokes, high blood pressure (hypertension), and endocarditis.
Brain Health
The oral microbiome can have a direct effect on your brain health and neurological function.
A 2020 study concluded that there was a biological correlation between impaired oral microbiota and the development of severe brain disorders such as autism, Alzheimer’s disease, and bipolar disorder.
Moreover, the bacteria most responsible for gum disease could potentially have a causal (not correlational) link to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Related: Heavy Metal Poisoning Symptoms
Infections
The oral microbiome houses many anaerobes responsible for both oral and systemic infections. The mouth is the primary location for this type of oxygen-independent bacterium.
Diabetes
Sedentary lifestyles and poor diet are primary factors in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, which is characterized by poor glycemic control. But there is also a strong connection between diabetes and a dysbiotic oral microbiome.
A 2024 study concludes that “there is a bidirectional relation between glycemic control and oral health status.”
Obesity
Extensive research suggests that oral dysbiosis is a major factor in the development of obesity.
Scientists have found that multiple oral bacterial taxa were significantly associated with obesity, especially pathogens associated with weight gain during adulthood and above-average BMIs.
Researchers have also observed a connection between oral microbial profiles and obesity in children.
Infertility & Pregnancy Complications
There’s increasing evidence linking the oral status to multiple common causes of infertility, according to the most recent research.
Researchers have found significant evidence linking periodontal pathogenic bacteria in the oral microbiome to adverse pregnancy outcomes like preterm birth and preeclampsia.
The transmission of pathogenic microorganisms through the mouth can cause a dysbiotic vaginal microbiome state. This may lead to complications like low birth weight, a higher rate of miscarriage, and even infertility.
Autoimmune Conditions
Research suggests certain features of the oral microbiome are associated with autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis.
HIV/AIDS may also be connected to the state of one’s oral microbiome. As with other autoimmune conditions, there is a noticeable difference in the oral microflora of those with and without HIV/AIDS.
Recent studies show that dysregulation in the oral microbiome can trigger and promote autoimmune diseases via several mechanisms, such as:
- Microbial translocation
- Molecular mimicry
- Autoantigen overproduction
- Amplification of autoimmune responses by cytokines
Osteoporosis
The development of osteoporosis and periodontitis shares many characteristics and risk factors, pointing to a bidirectional relationship between these two conditions.
A 2020 study focused on how oral bacteria triggering inflammation mirrored the progressive loss of bone mineral density. This suggests that a dysbiotic oral microbiome may increase your risk of osteoporosis.
Cancer
A 2020 study concluded that certain oral bacterial species are associated with cancer and that poor oral health may play a part in the development of:
