Oral microbiome: your mouth is an ecosystem, take care of it

Since we were little, we have been insisted on the importance of dental hygiene, but have they ever told you about the oral microbiome? Taking care of it is of utmost importance to maintain the health of our teeth and gums. The oral microbiome can also help us with food digestion. Did you know that the microorganisms that live in our mouth can protect or attack it? Today we tell you the best ways to live in harmony with them.

Day Many different foods pass through our mouths every day and these in turn influence the microorganisms found in our mouths. In this part of the body, “ good ” bacteria coexist that correspond to our normal flora and other “ bad ” or aggressive bacteria that will cause problems that can affect both our mouth and our entire body.

What is the oral microbiome?

It is the set of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microorganisms that live in the mouth. This microbiome has different characteristics than other areas of the body, such as the skin, hair or eyes. These imbalances can affect your teeth, your gums, and even the digestion of food. Neglecting it can lead to diseases such as periodontitis, an inflammatory gum disease, or cause cavities and damage to your tooth enamel. The microorganisms that cause gum problems are different from those that cause damage to the teeth, because they are very different structures, something that we must take into account when maintaining our oral microbiome.

The importance of the oral microbiome

There are different important functions in which the ecosystem that lives in your mouth participates. Microorganisms carry out anti-inflammatory activity thanks to the fact that they are capable of transforming different food components into substances that serve as anti-inflammatories for our body. The mouth is the first stop in the digestion process. Maintaining good oral health helps eliminate less healthy microorganisms since good bacteria compete with them for the nutrients that are normally found in our mouth and prevent their adhesion to the oral mucosa.

When an imbalance appears in the oral flora, dysbiosis occurs, that is, a situation in which different microorganisms, which normally cannot cause harm, become capable of attacking our mouth. Oral dysbiosis thus constitutes the first step for the appearance of pathologies such as caries or periodontitis (inflammatory gum disease). With the imbalance of the microbiota due to excessive sugar consumption, a change in microorganisms occurs, causing an increase in acid-producing microbes that promote the deterioration of enamel, leaving the teeth unprotected from germs. As for periodontitis, in this case, the change in the microbiota occurs in other parts of the mouth such as the gums or the tongue. The lack of adequate oral hygiene, together with certain risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes or genetic predisposition, favors the appearance of periodontal disease , so special care must be taken in these cases. .

How to take care of your oral microbiome

One of the concepts that we have to keep in mind is that of pre- and probiotics, which will help us favor the flora of our mouth. Probiotics contain live microorganisms intended to maintain or improve the good bacteria in your mouth . Prebiotics, on the other hand, are nutrients necessary for the survival of the human microbiota . Therefore, we are interested in our oral care products being very rich in these two components.

Another component that we need in our daily lives to take care of the oral microbiota is xylitol, a natural sugar alcohol that helps prevent cavities, being the product that has proven most effective in protecting against this problem. It achieves this thanks to its chemical properties that neutralize the acid that is harmful to our teeth. Thus, with a minimum consumption twice a day, it helps maintain enamel mineralization and reduces the sensation of dry mouth by increasing salivary secretion .

Now that we are clear about how we should act against less beneficial bacteria, we propose a series of tips so that you can maintain a good oral care routine.

1. Avoid foods high in sugar, tobacco and alcohol. The habitual consumption of foods and drinks rich in sugar is one of the main triggers of oral health problems. Furthermore, smoking and drinking alcohol damages our enamel, leaving our teeth unprotected against external threats and weakens our gums, even triggering tooth loss. These products seriously damage the health of our body, so there is more than one reason to keep them away.

2. Brush your teeth a minimum of twice a day. After each meal, clean your teeth well to remove any remaining plaque. It is very important to use a good toothpaste that contains ingredients that help your microbiome. The Toothpaste with prebiotics of Gallinée It has a high concentration of prebiotics and xylitol. This toothpaste soothes and strengthens sensitive gums, helps neutralize plaque, and prevents cavities, all while respecting and strengthening your oral microbiome. If you want to reinforce its function, you can help yourself with Supplement in capsules for mouth and microbiome of the same brand. This pill that dissolves in the mouth contributes to the protection of your mouth thanks to its prebiotic, probiotic and xylitol content. Take it 1 or 2 times a day to keep bacteria in your mouth at bay.

3. Choose your toothbrush well and change it every 3 months. This step is crucial since the toothbrush is the main tool with which we will carry out daily cleaning. You should pay close attention to the size, shape or hardness of the bristles; you can ask your dentist which one is best for you. Remember that there are brushes that adapt to different oral problems such as sensitive gums . It is very important to throw it away every 3 months, so if you don't want to throw away so much plastic every few months you can switch to the bamboo brushes .

By following these guidelines you will be able to maintain the microbiome in your mouth much better. By taking care of the ecosystem of your mouth, you also take care of your health.