We are all taught from a very young age to brush our teeth but could oral care be playing a larger role in our immune support? It is a very well known fact that our gut health plays a huge role in our immune system. Nearly 70% of our immune system is in our gut. And where does our gut start? In our mouth!
If you want to learn more on gut health, check out my post here! If you want to know more about immune health, check out my post here!
Since the beginning of our gut is our mouth, oral care is so important! Your mouth houses around 700 different kinds of organisms that make up your oral microbiota. When the bacteria in your mouth is not balanced, it can flow through your digestive tract, cause inflammation, and lead to serious issues. Some of these serious issues include: autoimmune disorders, pregnancy issues, viral infections, and mental illness.
Proper oral care comes with so many benefits while poor oral care can cause some serious issues. Luckily it can be easy to maintain a healthy oral microbiome. Here are some ways:
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Brushing Your Teeth Regularly
This is easily one of the best ways to maintain oral health. Our teeth need to be brushed regularly and with good toothpaste. My favorite toothpaste is Redmonds Earthpaste! This toothpaste is non-toxic and leaves your mouth feeling totally clean! One disclaimer about this toothpaste, it is brown so don’t let that alarm you! It contains bentonite clay, which is why I love it so much, but it is also what gives it the brown coloring. For the best oral care, brushing your teeth twice a day is suggested. I feel like most people do this anyways but if you’re not, this is a good place to start!
Flossing Your Teeth Regularly
Along with brushing your teeth regularly, flossing them regularly will also help maintain a healthy oral microbiome. But you need to be careful because some floss can contain toxic chemicals that can actually be worst than not flossing. A good non-toxic floss should have simple ingredients. I love this one from byHumanKind. It has three ingredients: silk, vegetable wax, and jojoba oil. Make sure you check the ingredients in your floss!
Eat A Balanced Diet for Oral Care
I feel like this one is a bit of a no brainer. It goes along with all things healthy. When you eat a balanced diet you are getting all vitamins and minerals necessary. Many minerals play a huge role in our oral microbiome, so eating a balanced diet is crucial. If you feel like you can’t eat a balanced diet with all necessary minerals, it might be a good idea to take a supplement. Eating a balanced diet can be difficult and if you can’t then there is nothing wrong with a supplement. Along with eating a balanced diet, drinking your water also plays a role in your oral health, so drink your water as well!
Oil Pulling
This is something that maybe not everyone has heard of. Oil pulling is when you swish coconut oil in your mouth to rid your mouth of harmful bacteria. Not only does it rid your mouth of bacteria, but it also improves gum health by reducing inflammation. Oil pulling is simple to do and only requires coconut oil and ten minutes. All you do is take a spoonful of oil, stick it in your mouth, and swish it around for ten minutes. I do this right in the morning and typically when I am showering. It’s easy but it does take some getting use to!
Tongue Scraping
Tongue scraping is something that I have only started doing. Tongue scraping removes bacteria that can lurk around in your mouth and promote overall oral care. Not only that, but when used consistently, it can reduce bad breath. Tongue scraping is just as it sounds. You use a metal device to scrape your tongue and you would surprised at what can come off your tongue! It’s a little disgusting! I purchased this tongue scraper from Amazon!
Sleep With Your Mouth Closed
This sounds like an odd one, but sleeping with your mouth open can cause dry mouth which can throw off your oral microbiome. Also, sleeping with your mouth open can lead to cavities and teeth grinding, both which are not good for your health. I am someone who sleeps with their mouth open all the time! I didn’t realize how bad it was until recently. It can be really difficult to all of a sudden start sleeping with your mouth closed. When you sleep sometimes you can’t help but open your mouth. Well, if you’re having trouble you can try mouth tape. It is special tape that will keep your mouth closed at night. You can find mouth tape on Amazon. I have not been brave enough to try it. I have found that sleeping on my back helps me sleep with my mouth shut. When I tend to move to my side and stomach, my mouth seems to open!
Check in With The Dentist
Last but not least, check in with your dentist. I know the dentist is not the most relaxing place to be, but it’s necessary. I for one can say that I do not keep up with my dentist appointments but I try! It is recommended that you see the dentist twice a year. It is also incredibly important for children to go to the dentist to at least get them familiar with the process! So, even though it’s not fun, go to the dentist!
I hope these tips help you maintain that healthy oral microbiome that everyone needs! Oral care is important and it can be so easy to maintain!