As you might expect, the teeth, gums, tongue, and entire oral cavity also have a microbiome. This microbiome is the first to interact with food and influence subsequent processes. Good dental hygiene is essential for overall health. There are many links between oral health and systemic diseases.

Key points that are not widely discussed include:

Floss before brushing your teeth. The purpose of flossing is to break the tiny adhesions between the gums and teeth. This allows proper remineralization by exposing the tooth biofilm.

Use a soft-bristle toothbrush and replace it monthly. Nylon bristles stiffen and bend with use, which can damage your gums. Be gentle when brushing!

Use a toothpaste without fluoride or other harsh chemicals. None of the major commercial brands are healthy.

Don’t use mouthwash! Your oral microbiome is critical to your health. Don’t kill your microbiome with mouthwash. Bad breath means bad bacteria, which comes from eating carbohydrates and sugar. Eliminate the carbs and sugar, not the good bacteria.

Scrape your tongue daily, preferably at bedtime.

For more information, visit Dr. Mark Burhenne’s website: https://askthedentist.com/.

There is evidence that xylitol gum is more effective than fluoride at preventing cavities.

The hidden dangers of the mouth are rarely discussed. Do you have old fillings? Have you had a root canal? Do you have titanium or other metal implants? Have you had your wisdom teeth removed? All of these can be sources of chronic, low-grade infections and toxicity. Relatively new approaches called functional and biological dentistry are emerging to address these issues. If you have low-grade inflammation without an apparent cause, check your mouth. Thanks to decades of “drill and fill” dentistry, millions of people have hidden dental inflammation.