Ask the dentist – why should I care about bacteria in the mouth

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When one talks about bacteria in the body, it is normal to instantly bring the gut to mind. Most people are quite familiar with the importance of gut bacteria for optimal health. What our dentist in West Byfleet at Byfleet Dental has found is that finding out that the mouth is also home to hundreds of species of bacteria comes as an astonishing surprise to most patients.

The strains of bacteria found in the mouth, like those in the gut, are divided into the desirable good kind and the harmful sort that wreak havoc not only in the mouth but also in other parts of the body.

We cannot get rid of all bacteria as we need the good kind to perform a number of important duties: fight bad breath, aid in digestion and protect against cavities. Instead of wiping out the entire bacteria population in the mouth, and since patients cannot distinguish not between good and bad oral microbes, the trick is to maintain a balance between the two. When pH balance is maintained, there is a lower likelihood of dreaded dental problems like cavities, tooth decay and loss, gum disease and halitosis occurring.

To ensure bad bacteria do not overwhelm your mouth, you must attend regular routine checkups and receive the necessary dental care from our dentist in West Byfleet.

What causes an imbalance in the oral microbiome?

Ever wondered why dental practitioners make such a fuss about the amount of sugar consumed? Excessive sugar consumption ties in directly with unmanageable levels of bad bacteria in the mouth. Bad bacteria are known to thrive on sugars and acids from foods and beverages – the more a patient consumes sugar, the more overwhelming the population of bad bacteria.

Once the acidic by-products of the interaction between bad bacteria and sugar sit on teeth long enough, these deposits harden to form plaque, which causes cavities and eventual tooth loss. It takes the skills of a dentist in West Byfleet to effectively remove stubborn deposits of enamel.

Understanding the impact of bad oral bacteria on health

What happens in the mouth is intrinsically linked to the health of both physical and mental bodies; this is why it is cause for concern when a patient exhibits signs of dental disease.

The mouth cavity is an open system, which is why it is no big surprise to find that bad bacteria can escape the mouth into the bloodstream and enter deeper recesses of the body. Medical researchers have identified oral bacteria that are responsible for gum disease to be present in the heart and lungs; this increases the risk of clogged vessels and arteries, strokes and lung infections. Gut health and the immune system – the body’s natural line of defence against sickness and disease – are also vulnerable to an overload of nasty pathogens originating in the mouth.

When dental disease exposes the look of a smile to ruin, it is the levels of confidence and mental health that take a knock. To protect your smile, oral health and, by extension, overall health, regular visits to a reputable dental practice such as our Byfleet Dental is essential. Give us a call, and we would be more than happy to schedule an appointment at your convenience.