Caring for your teeth and gums goes beyond merely brushing and it is far more important than just having a nice smile. We all know by know how important the gut health is to our health, our overall wellness, and our ability to ward of illness and disease. Gut health stems from happy, balanced gut flora (intestinal bacteria). Dozens and dozens of books are now available on caring for our gut microbiome and rightfully so…your gut health is pivotal to many processes in our body. Ironically though, your oral microbiome gets far less attention even though it is the beginning of the digestive system and the first line of defense against harmful microbes.
Your mouth is a source of lots of bacteria. Some of the bacteria in your mouth actually protects your teeth and gums. Other kinds of bacteria are not so helpful and can be the cause of bad breath and even tooth and gum disease. Not only can allowing bad bacteria to flourish in your mouth cause larger issues with your gut health and gut dysbiosis, it can lead to gum disease, bleeding gums, dental caries, etc. If you are experiencing any of these issues you need to address them for the sake of your entire microbiome.
For starters, you need to address your diet by eating more prebiotic fiber that promotes the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the mouth and intestines.You also need to add probiotic fermented foods and an oral probiotic. Secondly you need to avoid food and drink that harm beneficial bacteria…ie sugar, soda, alcohol, and mouthwash.
Lastly you need to address the bad bacteria in your mouth with good oral care. Think about all the crevices and pockets where bad bacteria can hide and thrive. Brushing and flossing are essential for healthy gums and teeth.
But what about another place that bad bacteria can be lurking? Your tongue!
Entire communities of microbes live on the tongue and they can be causing foul smelling breath but also issues with poor digestion, a sluggish liver, and bad bacteria and yeast (candida) overgrowth. This is why you should be brushing or scraping your tongue a couple times a day to remove bacteria, food debris, fungi, toxins, and dead cells from the surface of the tongue. You do not want those toxins to lay on the tongue and be absorbed into the body.
Here’s how to do it. Start at the back of the tongue (as far as you can), gently brush toward the front, to the tip. You don’t have to use toothpaste, but it’ll probably feel more comfortable, and the abrasiveness of toothpaste can help make cleaning more effective. A good brush to try is the TUNG brush. It has been one of the worlds most effective tongue cleaners for over 20 years now.
Do not opt to just use your regular toothbrush for tongue brushing. You don’t want to use the same brush that scraped up the high levels of bacteria on your tongue to then brush your teeth with. This has the potential to introduce those bacteria to your gums and bloodstream.
It needs to be ritual for everyone, including your kids. Not only will it help with your overall health and gut and oral flora it will halt bad breath and bacterial overgrowth that causes decay and gum disease. Ten seconds spent brushing your tongue could make a world of difference to your health.
Here is to happy oral flora and a happy smile!
