Discover the new Microscope edition, unveiling the key role our microbiomes play in shaping our health
When it comes to our health, having pearly whites doesn‘t really matter so much in itself. But by looking after our teeth every day we’re also looking after our oral microbiome – the viruses, fungi and 700 species of bacterium that reside in our mouths – and this is a critical part of keeping our body healthy, as well as our teeth looking good. The new Microscope edition dives into what lies beneath the surface of oral care, unseen with the naked eye, and reminds us how important the invisible things are.
The microbiome: our incredible ‘invisible organ’
The microbiome is the combination of all the microbes – bacteria, viruses and fungi – that colonise our bodies. Although invisible to the naked eye, it’s actually made up of more than 10 trillion bacteria and more than 10,000 different species – a bit like plankton in the sea. It’s so important, it’s a lot like an ‘invisible organ’, or even an invisible ‘second body’ living within us all.
The gut microbiome in particular takes care of many tasks relevant to our well-being. For example, through fermentation, bacteria digest fibres that our gut cannot break down, and synthesise vitamins. Gut bacteria can manufacture about 95% of the body’s supply of serotonin, which regulates our mood. And the microbiome also communicates with our immune system and has an impact on metabolism. When not well balanced, the gut microbiome can influence the development of many diseases.
Dental plaque: one of the densest microbial habitats on Earth
The oral microbiome is the microbes living in our mouths – on the tongue, cheeks, gums or on the surface of our teeth. The microbes on our teeth gradually create dental plaque – bacteria that has adhered to a surface, embedded in an environment of its own making. There are something like 100 billion organisms per gram of plaque and a little over 700 different species of bacteria, next to fungi and viruses.
As we eat and drink, we also take in lots of other micro-organisms from the planet – a splash of sea water, some dirt on your spinach, etc. Eventually, if you sampled enough people enough times, every micro-organism on the planet could show up in somebody’s mouth.
The good, the bad, and the ugly
For most, the bacteria in our mouths seem largely an inconvenience – critters all mixed together in a smelly goo that must be brushed or rinsed away to keep our breath pleasant and gums healthily pink. But some bacteria in the mouth actually keep us healthy. Good microbes are key actors in maintaining normal metabolism; they fortify our immune system, help our digestion, lower inflammatory responses and promote tolerance and homeostasis.
“Up to 90% of all diseases are somehow influenced by the microbiome.”
Dr Daniela Weiler, specialist of nutritional medicine and oncologist at the Lucerne Hospital
Just like any thriving ecosystem, bacteria flourish and multiply, generating harmful byproducts along the way. But maintaining a balance is crucial for our overall health. Let our oral hygiene slip, and bad bacteria from our mouths can travel all over the body, causing exacerbating problems, from cardiovascular to inflammatory bowel disease or arthritis.
We know, for instance, that people with gum disease are as much as 20% more likely to get cancer in their lifetimes compared with otherwise healthy people. Alzheimer’s disease, which slowly robs people of their memories and cognitive function, is also now proven to have a direct causal connection with gum bacteria.
Keeping everything in balance staves off decline
If a balanced microbiome is our ally in staying healthy, a poorly balanced and less diverse microbiome is something we want to avoid. We can influence which microbes are living in our intestines to a certain extent – through nutrition, a healthy lifestyle and sports. And we can influence our oral microbiome by brushing our teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day and cleaning between them with interdental brushes.
Because, under the microscope, there are many processes that help us stay healthy, but we must make sure we help the systems thrive. By brushing and gently taking care of our mouths, we are not just cleaning teeth – we are taking care of our microbiomes and therefore our entire bodies.
Source of this text is Curaden’s recent publication for dentists: The Gentle Guide to Oral Health and Human Happiness (2024); Chapter four: Making Patients Aware of their Beautiful Oral Flora, (multiple articles). Authors: Rowan Hooper, Eryn Brown, Jessica Mark Welch, Gary Borisy, Floyd Dewhirst, Jasmin Fox-Skelly.
Find out more about the book here or download the e-version here.
