One of the most critical shifts in recent medicine is the discovery of the importance of the microbiome, i.e., the collection of bacteria that live in the digestive system. Recent studies show that these bacteria can influence a variety of factors, from your immunity to disease to your mood.
The gut microbiome is a common topic of discussion nowadays, but there’s an equally complex and important one in your mouth. If you’re interested in learning more, here’s what you should know about the development of bacteria (both good and bad) on the teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue.
How Many Bacteria are in the Mouth?
Of course, the exact number of bacteria in any given person’s mouth is essentially impossible to determine given how numerous they are. However, it’s possible to estimate.
Bacteria consolidates into plaque and tartar deposits, which are styles of biomass. It’s estimated by researchers that the average person has around 20mg of this biomass in their mouth, and that each mg contains around 100 million individual microbes. This means that the typical person has around 20 billion oral microbes in their mouth!
What Does this Bacterial Makeup Look Like?
As is the case elsewhere in the body, there are both “good” and “bad” bacteria in the mouth. Some number of bacteria are not only normal but necessary, contributing to the process of digestion and the equilibrium of the mouth. These bacteria even have “habitats,” places in the mouth that they tend to flock.
However, there are also bacteria that can cause problems in the mouth, contributing to tooth decay and gum disease if they get out of hand.
How to Prevent Bad Bacterial Buildup
Many of the bacteria that cause problems for your smile are located in plaque and tartar deposits that coat the teeth. If you want to prevent gum disease, mitigating the development of these bacteria is critically important.
This is where dental hygiene comes into play. By brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily you can do a lot to stop the development of bad bacteria. You should also make it a point to see your dentist twice a year for checkups and cleanings, which will allow them to remove tartar deposits that you can’t break up on your own.
About Our Practice
At Premier Dental, we believe that dentistry is about much more than just treating teeth. We aim to help our patients take charge of their oral health, giving them the tools and know-how necessary in order to bring their smile to perfection. That’s part of why we make an effort to make our practice as comfortable as possible; so that dentistry can become something you enjoy instead of just tolerate.
If you have any questions about gum disease, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (772) 234-5353.