Oral Microbiome: How to Care for It to Protect Your Teeth and Gums

How to care for your oral microbiome

The oral microbiome refers to all the microorganisms naturally present in the mouth. It is found throughout the oral cavity: on the teeth, gums, tongue, mucous membranes, and in saliva.

The hundreds of species of oral bacteria that make up this microbiota form a true ecosystem in which each plays a specific role (breaking down food debris, limiting unwanted bacteria, etc.).

The proper functioning of this oral ecosystem is closely linked to the balance among these different bacterial populations. And its composition can vary!

In fact, when one species gains the upper hand over the others, the oral environment can become unbalanced and promote the growth of unwanted bacteria.

Dental plaque itself is a collection of bacteria known as a natural biofilm, whose composition is constantly changing.

There are several ways to maintain a balanced oral microbiome and take care of your oral health in general:

• maintaining good oral and dental hygiene;
• monitoring certain dietary factors and lifestyle habits;
• promoting healthy saliva production;
• support the oral microbiome with appropriate probiotics;
• provide certain nutrients and compounds studied for their effects on the oral microbiota.

How can you maintain the balance of the oral microbiome?

Good oral hygiene to preserve the oral ecosystem

Proper oral hygiene helps maintain the balance of the oral microbiome and the oral environment, particularly through:

• regular tooth brushing;
• cleaning between teeth;
• cleaning the tongue;
• regular checkups at the dentist.

However, the goal is not to eliminate all bacteria, since their presence is essential for oral health.

Rather, the goal is to promote a healthy balance within the oral microbiome between “good” bacteria and pathogenic bacteria.

Diet and lifestyle influence the oral microbiome

Diet is one of the main factors influencing the composition of the oral microbiome.

Several factors have been identified as potentially disrupting this balance (1).

Frequent snacking can increase exposure to sugars throughout the day. However, these sugars serve as a substrate for certain bacteria, which can promote their proliferation at the expense of others (2).

Tobacco use is also associated with changes in the composition of the oral microbiome, with a decrease in certain bacterial groups among smokers, according to a study of more than 1,200 adults (3).

Another study examined alcohol, which is also associated with changes in oral bacterial diversity (4).

Finally, insufficient hydration can reduce saliva production and thus lead to dry mouth. And, as we will see, saliva plays a major role in oral balance.

Each of these factors alters the composition of the oral microbiome in its own way.

As a result, it is constantly evolving in response to the environment to which it is exposed.

Saliva: An Often-Overlooked Ally of the Oral Microbiome

Saliva plays a major role in maintaining oral balance because it contributes to the mouth’s natural cleansing process (5):

• by facilitating the removal of food debris and certain microorganisms;
• by helping to maintain a balanced oral flora;
• by helping to maintain daily oral comfort.

You can promote saliva production through simple habits such as staying well-hydrated throughout the day and rinsing your mouth when it feels dry.

Chewing gum is said to have a similar effect. A recent study confirmed that chewing gum increases saliva flow, even in people with dry mouth (6).

Note: The longer you chew, the greater the improvement in saliva flow.

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Can probiotics support the oral microbiome?

Research is currently being conducted on certain probiotic strains to investigate their interactions with the oral microbiome.

The goal here is not to prevent or treat a disease with probiotics, but to explore approaches that may help maintain the balance of the oral microbiome.

Probiotics are live microorganisms studied for their ability to interact with the bacterial communities naturally present in the body.

Several probiotic strains have thus been studied for their potential interactions with oral bacteria.

Species of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are believed to produce compounds capable of limiting the proliferation of certain bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans, which is involved in the formation of dental plaque (7).

Lactobacillus rhamnosus has been studied for its interaction with bacteria involved in dental plaque and has shown promising potential (8).

Lactobacillus salivarius is naturally present in human saliva. It has been studied for its ability to produce compounds that limit biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans (9).

Several studies have examined Lactobacillus reuteri, exploring its interaction with various bacteria associated with dental caries and periodontal disease (10).

Bifidobacterium longum, for its part, has been studied for its ability to interact with certain bacteria involved in periodontal diseases (7).

It is in this context that certain dietary supplements containing these probiotic strains help increase their intake.

Discover Oral Health, a dietary supplement combining several probiotic strains studied in the context of the oral microbiome.

Probiotics thus represent a promising avenue of research as part of a comprehensive approach to oral health.

Other Nutrients Studied for the Oral Environment

Other nutrients and compounds are also being studied for their interaction with the oral microbiome, the gums, or certain components of the oral cavity.

This is the case with vitamin C. A systematic review found that a lower intake of vitamin C was associated with a higher risk of periodontal disease (11).

In some trials, oral vitamin C supplementation reduced gum bleeding in people with gingivitis.

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Researchers are also interested in lactoferrin, a protein naturally present in saliva and other bodily fluids. This protein is particularly known for its ability to bind to iron, which may limit the availability of this nutrient to certain harmful bacteria (12). It may thus inhibit the growth and biofilm formation of two periodontal pathogens (13).

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Polyphenols, and in particular green tea catechins such as EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), are also being studied for their potential interactions with the oral microbiome.

These polyphenols may limit certain bacteria associated with oral diseases while preserving certain bacteria that are more beneficial to oral balance (14).

Another study also found that EGCG limited biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium associated with dental plaque (15).

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Xylitol, a natural sweetener extracted primarily from birch or corn, is also of interest to researchers for its potential benefits to oral health.

One study in particular showed that it limits the formation of biofilm by Streptococcus mutans by disrupting bacterial adhesion to tooth surfaces (16).

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What signs may be associated with an imbalance in the oral microbiome?

An imbalance in the oral microbiome can sometimes result in some noticeable changes in the oral environment.

For example:

• changes in breath odor;
• a feeling of discomfort in the mouth;
• gum sensitivity;
• a dry mouth;
• or other changes felt in the mouth.

However, these signs are very general. They can have many causes and, on their own, are not sufficient to assess the state of the oral microbiome.

A healthcare professional should always be consulted if symptoms persist or are cause for concern.

In conclusion, it’s important to remember that oral hygiene, diet, saliva, and the microbiome all work together to protect your teeth and gums.