Can Your Mouth Affect Your Gut? - Probiotics

Can Your Mouth Affect Your Gut?

When was the last time you went to the dentist? If it’s been a while, you might want to think about scheduling an appointment. That’s because the state of your oral health goes way beyond your smile. Studies show that people with gum disease-a condition technically known as periodontal disease-are also more likely to have digestive issues.1 These include inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, acid reflux, and even leaky gut.2,3,4

Periodontal Disease Defined

Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place (aka, your gums). It’s typically caused by poor brushing and flossing habits that allow plaque—a sticky film of bacteria—to build up on your teeth and harden into tartar. Without treatment, periodontal disease can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. This can cause your teeth to loosen and may even lead to tooth loss.5

The biggest risk factor for periodontal disease is poor dental hygiene. Without routine brushing and flossing, plaque can go unchecked, increasing the odds of developing gum disease as much as five-fold.6  Other risk factors include hormonal changes during puberty and menopause, certain health conditions such as AIDS or diabetes, some medications like contraceptives or steroids, and the genes you inherit.7

Symptoms of periodontal disease include:

  • Red, swollen, or tender gums
  • Bleeding gums
  • The buildup of tartar along the gum line
  • Gums that pull away from teeth
  • Loose or sensitive teeth.
  • Pain while chewing
  • Persistent bad breath 7

If you have any of these symptoms, run-don’t walk-to your dentist. That’s because treatment, which includes the removal of plaque and tartar, can help to reverse periodontal disease at every level and foster a healthier gut microbiome.

The Oral-Gut Connection

Can keeping your pearly whites in top form really help foster a healthier gut? Research suggests that your oral and your gut microbiomes talk to each other via the oral-gut axis.8 This bidirectional conversation happens along various pathways, including your bloodstream and saliva. But these two critical microbiomes do more than just talk. It turns out, bacteria¾including harmful bacteria¾in your mouth can also travel to your gut. And that can spell trouble if you have periodontal disease. In fact, one study in the Journal of Oral Microbiology reports that increased amounts of one key oral bacteria called Porphyromonas gingivalis has been found in the guts of people with IBD, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and colon cancer.9  On the flip side, your gut bacteria can also travel to your mouth, albeit to a lesser degree. This was shown by scientists at the National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research who noted that “certain gut bacteria trigger an immune response that can lead to a loss of the bone that anchors teeth, akin to the bone loss that can result from periodontal disease.”10

Tips for a Healthier Mouth and a Healthier Gut

Given the relationship between your mouth and your gut, keeping both microbiomes healthy and balanced is crucial for overall well-being. Here are some strategies to support both bacterial communities.

  • Brusha, brusha, brusha.Brush your teeth for two minutes at least twice a day—once in the morning and just before going to bed. And don’t forget to brush your molars and the backside of teeth where bacteria can hide. It’s also smart to replace your toothbrush every three months, or more often if the bristles are matted or frayed.
  • Don’t forget to floss. Flossing before you brush allows you to clean away any loosened food bits and bacteria. According to researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, flossing is a particularly effective way to prevent periodontal disease in older adults.11
  • Ditch the mouthwash. New research in the Journal of Medical Microbiology reports that commonly-used alcohol-based mouthwashes disrupt the oral microbiome and can lead to an uptick in the number of harmful bacteria present in the mouth.12
  • Make regular dental visits.See your dentist regularly for cleanings, usually every 6 to 12 months. If you have risk factors that increase your chance of developing periodontitis—such as having dry mouth, taking certain medicines or smoking—you may need professional cleaning more often.
  • Adopt a healthy diet. Trade out nutritionally bankrupt ultra-processed food for a diet loaded with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains that provide both antioxidants and fiber to help to nourish your beneficial bacteria.13,14
  • Prioritize probiotics. Since harmful oral bacteria can travel to your gut and disrupt your gut microbiome, it’s a good idea to fortify the “good” bacteria in your intestinal tract. One of the easiest ways to do that is with a daily probiotic. According to a recent study in the Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, several strains of Lactobacillus bacteria, including acidophilus, L. plantarum, B. breve, B, infantisand L. rhamnosus, can discourage inflammation and strengthen your intestinal barrier.15
  • Add a prebiotic. Feed your beneficial bacteria by including a prebiotic. According to a group of British researchers, the combination of probiotics and prebiotics improves the oral microbiome and helps prevent periodontal disease.16 This, in turn, also helps to guard against the consequences of gut dysbiosis. One of the most convenient ways to make sure you’re getting both probiotics and prebiotics is with a comprehensive synbiotic supplement.

Pairing good oral hygiene with healthy habits and a daily synbiotic can help to ensure that both your mouth and your gut are thriving with beneficial bacteria. And that’s definitely something to smile about!

References

  1. Park SY, Hwang BO, Lim M, et al. Oral-gut microbiome axis in gastrointestinal disease and cancer. Cancers (Basel). 2021;13(9):2124.
  2. Tanwar H, Gnanasekaran JM, Allison D, et al. Unraveling the link between periodontitis and inflammatory bowel disease: Challenges and outlook. ArXiv [Preprint]. 202319:arXiv:2308.10907v1.
  3. Watanabe M, Nakatani E, Yoshikawa H, et al.Oral soft tissue disorders are associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease: retrospective study. BMC Gastroenterology. 2017;17:92.
  4. Sohn J, Li L, Zhang L, et al. Porphyromonas gingivalis indirectly elicits intestinal inflammation by altering the gut microbiota and disrupting epithelial barrier function through IL9-producing CD4+T cells. Molecular Oral Microbiology. 2022;37(2):42-52.
  5. Gasner NS, Schure RS. Periodontal Disease. [Updated 2023 Apr 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554590/
  6. Lertpimonchai A, Rattanasiri S, Arj-Ong Vallibhakara S, et al. The association between oral hygiene and periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Dental Journal. 2017;67(6):332-343.
  7. Periodontal (gum) disease. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. 2024. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/gum-disease#:~:text=Periodontal%20(gum)%20disease%20is%20an,%2C%20red%2C%20and%20bleeding%20gums.
  8. Kunath BJ, De Rudder C, Laczny CC, et al.The oral–gut microbiome axis in health and disease. Nature Reviews Microbiology. July 22,
  9. Olsen I, Yamazaki K. Can oral bacteria affect the microbiome of the gut? Journal of Oral Microbiology. 2019;11(1):1586422.
  10. The gut’s role in oral bone health. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. 2022. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/news-events/nidcr-news/2022/guts-role-oral-bone-health
  11. Marchesan JT, Byrd KM, Moss K, et al. Flossing is associated with improved oral health in older adults. Journal of Dental Research. 2020;99(9):1047-1053.
  12. Laumen JGE, Van Dijck C, Manoharan-Basil SS, et al. The effect of daily usage of Listerine Cool Mint mouthwash on the oropharyngeal microbiome: a substudy of the PReGo trial. Journal of Medical Microbiology. 2024;73(6).
  13. Naliyadhara N, Kumar A, Gangwar SK, et al. Interplay of dietary antioxidants and gut microbiome in human health: What has been learnt thus far? Journal of Functional Foods. 2023;100:105365.
  14. Fu J, Zheng Y, Gao Y, et al. Dietary fiber intake and gut microbiota in human health. 2022;10(12):2507.
  15. Li, C., Peng, K., Xiao, S. et al.The role of Lactobacillus in inflammatory bowel disease: from actualities to prospects. Cell Death Discovery. 2023;9:361.
  16. Yu X, Devine DA, Vernon JJ. Manipulating the diseased oral microbiome: the power of probiotics and prebiotics. Journal of Oral Microbiology. 2024;16(1):2307416.

This article is for informational purposes only. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.