Looking after your mouth isn’t just about preventing tooth decay. ‘The oral cavity has the second-largest microbiota after the gut,’ says dental expert Professor Liz Kay, president of the Oral Health Foundation. It’s home to more than 700 species of bacteria and, as well as being the starting point for our digestive system, it’s crucial for maintaining not just good oral health but overall wellbeing too.
The type of bacteria you have in your mouth could be responsible for lung cancer if you’re a non-smoker, according to a report in the BMJ last year. And it could make gut inflammation and inflammatory gut disease worse, says a study from the University of Michigan.
‘Many chronic medical conditions are evidenced in the mouth and first discovered in routine visits to the dentist,’ says Professor Kay. These include gum disease, which can lead to bleeding. ‘In turn, this can provide a gateway for bacteria to contaminate the bloodstream, potentially leading to abscesses, heart valve infections and, in worse-case scenarios, sepsis.’
Here’s how to keep your mouth microbiome healthy and maintain your good health too.
1 Chew on sugar-free gum
People who regularly chew develop 28% fewer cavities than those who don’t, said 2019 research by the Faculty of Dentistry at King’s College London. ‘The equivalent percentage for using fluoride toothpastes and supplements was 24%,’ says Professor Kay.
2 Up your fibre
ãã®èšäºã¯ WOMAN'S WEEKLY ã® August 24, 2021 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ WOMAN'S WEEKLY ã® August 24, 2021 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
Love is a BANANA SPLIT
Did Mum's new boyfriend know the way to a woman's heart?
'I still remember poems I learnt at school'
THIS WEEK'S COLUMNIST Actor and Jane Asher
CHERRY GARDEN Street
It was a place of magical childhood memories- but was it home?
JERSEY shores
Beautiful beaches and a mash-up of British and French culture make this island a delightful destination
Lovely lighter DINNERS
Whip up a healthy and nutritious meal
Looking after our WORLD
Two women talk about their efforts to help better the environment
Summer SURPRISES
For a weekend treat, try these classic bakes with a twist
200 years of heroism
The RNLI celebrates its bicentennial of saving people from the sea
Cut your risk of HEART DISEASE!
Some things can increase your chances, including menopause and diabetes. Here's what you need to know â and what you can do
'I want Bob Dylan to join the cobbles'
Dame Maureen Lipman on ageing, her dream co-star in Corrie and overcoming tragedy