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We often hear about the importance of gut health and its impact on our overall well-being. However, there's a hidden connection that many people tend to overlook - the relationship between oral health and gut health. Your oral hygiene practices might have a more significant impact on your gut than you realize.
Why Does Oral Health Matter for Gut Health?
Your mouth is home to various bacteria, including Streptococcus salivarius. Maintaining good oral hygiene is not just about having a dazzling smile; it's also crucial for your gut health. When oral bacteria, including Streptococcus species, find their way into the colon due to poor oral hygiene or dental procedures, it can disrupt the delicate balance of gut bacteria, leading to various digestive issues.
Common Digestive Problems Caused by Poor Oral Health:
Abdominal pain: Overgrowth of bacteria in the colon can lead to inflammation and discomfort in the abdominal region.
Bloating: Excessive gas production by the bacteria can cause bloating and a feeling of fullness.
Diarrhea: Disruption of the normal balance of gut bacteria can lead to diarrhea and loose stools.
Constipation: You might be surprised but some of pathogens actually cause slow bowel movements and constipation.
Flatulence: Increased gas production can lead to excessive flatulence.
Indigestion, nausea: Never just think about stomach acid! You may need dental cares rather than Gaviscon!
Malabsorption: Bacterial overgrowth can interfere with nutrient absorption, leading to deficiencies and related symptoms.
Fatigue: Chronic symptoms can lead to fatigue and a general sense of unwellness.
[DOs and DON'Ts] So why oral bacteria ends up in colon?
1. Neglected Oral Hygiene : Regular dental check-ups can help you keep a healthy oral environment and detect anything abnormal. Regular check ups can prevent bacterial overgrowth. 2. Stomach acid suppressor: Reduced stomach acid allows oral bacteria to pass through the stomach and enter 'wrong area'. Not only that, reduced stomach acid also decrease nutrition absorption rate, which means your bloodstream will have less nutrients no matter how healthy you eat. Have a think about why you need them and try tuckle into the root cause of stomach acid issues. Stomach acid suppressor doesn't fix your stomach acid imbalances. 3. Stress!: Increased stress hormones can actually suppress natural stomach acid production. Believe or not, when people experience indigestion, reflux or heartburn, people may think of too much stomach acid. But the truth is, they may be lacking stomach acid resulting discomfort - not enough digestive juice/enzyme! If this is you, looking after your brain and adreals will be priority work for your better digestive health.
Rather than investing on continuous stomach acid suppressors, invest on finding out your gut status.
This simple home test detect DNAs of every single microorganisms in our colon and tell us what's inside. Plus, they can tell us the status of 'Metabolites' = the compound that gut bacteria produce.
Some produces gas and some can even produce the causative agent of endometriosis and ovarian cysts. Some others can produce GABA, a neurotransmitter.
By looking after digestive system as a whole (from mouth to the other end!) end up maintaining reproductive health, metabolic health and mental health!
Take care.
Saya