You don’t have to be a dentist to spot a healthy, beautiful smile a mile away. 

Clean healthy teeth and fresh-smelling breath can be the first things we notice about those around us. 

And, why wouldn’t we? Dental health and hygiene are so important that they are taught as early as preschool. It ranks equally with all other hygiene practices in those regards. 

But, are the typical exhortations of brushing twice a day and flossing all that are needed to keep your mouth clean and healthy? 

What other factors affect the health of your mouth? 

Could your oral hygiene and health affect other areas of your body? 

If so, what can you do to ensure you are facilitating the health of not just your teeth, but your whole mouth? 

Dental Health

We often associate dental health with teeth, but dental health doesn’t stop at your teeth. 

It refers to the health of your mouth as a whole. From your teeth, to your gums, to your mouth, and the presence or absence of injury or infection there. 

And, no, despite the suggestion from the popular commercial, just a stick of a particular brand of gum won’t clean up a “dirty mouth” either. It’s far more complex than that.

In fact, the health of your mouth can be an indicator of the health of your entire body. 

Hmmm, that statement sounds familiar, but in reference to a different area of the body. 

We generally hear of your gut or digestive tract health being a good indicator of the condition of your entire body. 

The bacteria that live in your gut, trillions of bacteria, aid in many functions. This microbiome houses your immune system and facilitates its important actions and responses. It metabolizes nutrients and serves as a barrier to infection, just to name a few. 

So then, how would your mouth serve as a measure of total body health as well?

While your gut is home to the largest group of bacteria (microbiome) in your body, the runner-up is none other than your mouth! 

Oral Microbiome

More than 700 kinds of bacteria reside in your mouth. 

These bacteria are vitally important to the health of your mouth and in turn, your body. Your oral microbiome is responsible for: 

• aiding in the remineralization of your teeth
• carrying molecules of oxygen to your gums and soft tissues in your mouth
• removing free radicals and waste products
• protecting your body from harmful environmental organisms  

The warm temperatures, pH levels of your saliva, and continual presence of moisture in your mouth provide a comfortable environment suited for the survival of these bacteria. 

And, like the microbiome of your gut, these bacteria in your mouth need to remain in balance. 

When balanced, the bacteria within your mouth form a thin, clear, odorless layer of protection over your teeth. 

When unbalanced, this same layer becomes thick, sticky, and has an off-putting odor. 

A continual absence of this needed balance results in bad breath, bleeding gums, and tooth decay, which can lead to infection and can even cause disease. 

The pH levels in your mouth play a large role in preserving this balance, and those levels are influenced greatly by what you eat and drink. 

When your diet contains large amounts of fermentable carbohydrates (sugars like sucrose, fructose, and glucose), the layer of bacteria on your teeth work to break down these carbohydrates and this creates an environment that is overly acidic. 

This acidic, unbalanced, environment leads to the demineralization of your teeth, which dentists consider to be the first step to tooth decay. 

• Poor nutrition
• Stress
• Toxins
• Inflammation
• Poor oral hygiene
• Excess sugar 

All of those things listed there can lead to demineralization. 

But, there are many things that you can do to both promote a healthy balance in your oral microbiome and remineralize your teeth! 

Remineralization

Chances are, from early childhood, you’ve learned that brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing will prevent tooth decay. 

So, why do some individuals who religiously adhere to this cardinal rule of oral health still experience demineralization, tooth decay, bleeding gums, and bad breath? 

All of those metaphoric roads listed above lead to an imbalance in the oral microbiome. 

You can remineralize your teeth and balance this delicate community of bacteria in the following ways:

1- Probiotics

The health of your gut is linked to the health of your entire body. Since your mouth is the second largest home to bacteria in your body, second only to your gut, a healthy gut leads to a healthy mouth! 

Probiotics balance your gut microbiome by introducing healthy amounts of good bacteria and inhibiting the growth of bad bacteria there. 

Some consider the pH of your mouth to be the biggest factor in remineralizing your teeth. And, probiotics promote this balance in your gut and your mouth, keeping the environment from becoming too acidic. 

2- Oil Pulling

Oil pulling has become popular in recent years. 

It involves swishing 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil in your mouth for roughly 10-20 minutes as soon as you wake up, before eating or drinking anything. 

After this duration of time, you spit out the oil (trash can, not drain), rinse out your mouth, and brush your teeth as usual. 

Most recommend repeating this practice 3-5 times per week for the best results. 

Oil pulling removes harmful toxins from your mouth and promotes a balance in your oral microbiome. 

3- Saliva Production

Your saliva plays possibly the largest role in keeping the environment for the microbiome in your mouth from becoming too acidic (and thus leading to demineralization). 

Having adequate amounts of saliva is thus crucial for remineralization. 

You can boost saliva production and avoid dry mouth in the following ways: 

• Hydrate! Make it a goal to always stay hydrated. Sip water frequently throughout the day to boost saliva production.
• Ditch the tobacco. Both smoking and chewing tobacco can cause a lack of saliva and lead to demineralization.
• Limit caffeine. Caffeine can hinder saliva production and cause dry mouth. Also, many caffeinated beverages contain large amounts of sugar which are a primary cause of tooth demineralization.
• Breathe through your nose. Mouth breathing can dry out your mouth.
• Avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol. These can both dry out your mouth and disrupt the balance of the oral microbiome.
• Use a humidifier to add moisture to your room and thus your oral and nasal cavities.

4- Dietary Changes

Your diet can be the biggest contributor of demineralization and the biggest aid in remineralization!

So, what should you eat and drink?

First, foods rich in vitamins and minerals are a must! 

Leafy greens and other organic vegetables, wild-caught fish, grass-fed meats, healthy fats, and eggs all promote remineralization. 

And, some cheeses and low acid, fermented dairy products like kefir have been known to be healthy remineralization-aiding options, but milk tells a different story. 

Traditional dairy milk products contain lactose. Because lactose is a type of sugar, it greatly increases the level of acidity in your mouth. 

Choosing dairy free milk options like almond or oat milk can provide the calcium that your teeth need for remineralization, while avoiding the acidic effects of lactose.

Besides dairy milk, other foods and drinks can wreak havoc on your teeth. 

• Acidic fruits and fruit juices contain high amounts of acid that can contribute to an imbalance in the oral microbiome and demineralize your teeth.
• Sugar, when eaten frequently, even in small amounts, contributes to an overly acidic environment in your mouth, leading to demineralization, tooth decay, and ultimately, disease. 
• Simple carbohydrates like potatoes, rice, pasta and white bread all turn to fermentable sugars in your mouth, which once again leads to the acidic environment that you’re trying to avoid to promote oral health.

5- Avoid Phytic Acid

Your body, specifically your teeth, need calcium and other minerals for remineralization to occur naturally.

So, when it comes to the health of your teeth, avoiding foods and beverages that contain phytic acid is of monumental importance. 

Phytic acid is considered an “anti-nutrient.” It adheres to nutrients and minerals that your body needs, like calcium, zinc, and iron and keeps your body from absorbing them. 

Grains, seeds, nuts, and legumes are the primary sources of phytic acid. 

Cutting out foods high in phytic acid and replacing them with foods that are high in essential nutrients and minerals will promote remineralization. 

And, if you can’t see yourself living without grains or legumes, you can opt for their sprouted versions or fermented grains like sourdough instead, which are considered phytic acid lowering foods.

You can optimize your dental health by balancing your oral microbiome. Balancing these bacteria keeps your teeth healthy and hinders demineralization which leads to tooth decay and disease. 

To aid in remineralization you can:

• Eat probiotic rich foods or use a quality probiotic supplement
• Practice oil pulling
• Boost your saliva production
• Eat foods rich in vitamins and minerals 
• Avoid sugars, simple carbs, acidic foods and drinks, and dairy milk
• Cut out foods high in phytic acid

Try this for 60 seconds to rebuild your teeth & gums overnight.

Doctors still can’t believe their eyes…

Every person who did this 60-second trick before going to bed experienced a dramatic rejuvenation of their gums, rebuilt their teeth…

And even got rid of bad breath and ugly spots…

No matter how advanced their tooth decay was…

And all they had to do was mix 2 dirt-cheap ingredients.

Some of them even claim they’ll never have to go to the dentist again after this…

See here the breakthrough method that’s making dental implants absolutely useless!

References:

• https://www.marshfieldclinic.org/specialties/dental-care/dental-what
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6503789/#:~:text=Oral%20microbiome%20is%20defined%20as,microbial%20community%20in%20the%20humans.
• https://goop.com/wellness/health/oral-microbiome/
• https://www.nature.com/articles/sj.bdj.2016.865
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5034904/#:~:text=It%20is%20caused%20by%20the,demineralization%20and%20resultant%20carious%20lesions.
• https://www.drhudis.com/blog/2019/01/what-is-remineralization
• https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Tooth-Remineralization.aspx
• https://www.healthline.com/health/remineralizing-teeth
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-mouth/expert-answers/dry-mouth/faq-20058424
• https://askthedentist.com/phytic-acid-dental-health/
• https://www.draxelrad.com/phytic-acid-teeth-remineralization/#:~:text=First%2C%20don’t%20stop%20eating,otherwise%20healthy%20and%20nutritious%20foods.&text=If%20you%20snack%20on%20nuts,minerals%20from%20your%20main%20meals.&text=You%20can%20reduce%20the%20phytic,soaking%20them%20in%20water%20overnight.
• https://www.integrativepainscienceinstitute.com/phytic-acid-top-reasons-to-avoid-this-anti-nutrient/
• https://draxe.com/beauty/oil-pulling-coconut-oil/
• https://draxe.com/nutrition/best-worst-foods-teeth/
• https://blog.daveasprey.com/remineralize-teeth/
• https://wellnessmama.com/3650/remineralize-teeth/
• https://www.cooleysmiles.com/p/BLOG-30169-2016.8.20-Do-the-Sugars-in-Milk-Hurt-Your-Teeth-as-Much-as-Other-Sugars-Do-p.asp