Dr. Alex Shvartsman
631-361-3577
SmithtownSmiles.com
If you think about it, your digestive tract begins in your mouth. Most health-focused people have heard of probiotics and many appreciate the important role of beneficial bacteria in our intestines. A disruption of the natural beneficial microflora of the gut creates a myriad of health problems, such as candida overgrowth, small intestine bacterial overgrowth and many physiologic disturbances. The mouth is no different. In fact, a disruption in the natural beneficial bacteria of the mouth is the actual cause of tooth decay and/or gum disease (it’s not because you did not get enough fluoride!). If you are someone that brushes, flosses, water picks, rinses, tongue scrapes and still suffers from gum disease or tooth decay, you may have the wrong kind of bacteria in your mouth. Unless you change the bacteria makeup of your mouth back to the symbiotic type, you may never escape the seemingly never-ending cavities and gum problems.
Often patients spend tens of thousands of dollars and many hours in the dental chair repairing cavities, having endless gum surgeries and facing constant tooth loss. The trouble is that thus far these patients have been treated by addressing the symptoms of a disease process and not its cause.
A change in the bacteria microflora of the mouth can be caused by several factors.
Kissing people or sharing food with people that have virulent bacteria in their mouth is a very common source of “bad” bacteria in the mouth. It is common to find spouses with very similar oral diseases. If only one partner is treated, there is a constant source of disease-causing bacteria from the untreated spouse.
Kissing your pets, especially dogs, while very endearing, introduces some of the most aggressive gum-disease bacteria into your mouth. Hug your pets; don’t make out with them.
Mouth breathing is a common cause for a bacteria shift in the mouth. By drying out the oral environment during mouth breathing, a shift in the oral microflora occurs. Constant breathing through the mouth is an unnatural and damaging practice, which has many health consequences. If you walk around with your mouth open, you may have myo-functional syndrome, obstructed nasal passages and sinuses or other health issues, which need to be addressed. Night mouth breathing is also common and is even more detrimental to your mouth and overall health.
Eating a diet high in sugar, processed carbohydrates or acidic foods creates an oral environment that is selective for decay-causing bacteria. Another cause is the overuse of “germ-killing” mouth rinses. Most people know that taking antibiotics kills the bad as well as the good gut bacteria but are still using bacteria-killing rinses on a daily basis! Eradicating mouth bacteria is just as bad as if it were in the gut!
Fortunately, it is possible to re-establish a normal symbiotic and beneficial oral micro-flora in the mouth. By addressing the underlying causes and using specific oral probiotics, patients can reclaim their oral health and stop the frustrating cycle of tooth decay and gum disease.
If you are ready to finally address the cause of your mouth problems, Long Island Center for Healthier Dentistry is here to help with our highly successful and time-proven approach.
For more information, call Dr. Alex Shvartsman at the Long Island Center for Healthier Dentistry at 631-361-3577 or visit SmithtownSmiles.com.
