I’m sure you have heard by now that the colonies of bacteria that live inside your gut have a delicate balance that allows proper digestive functioning to take place. When this system, or microbiome is disrupted it can cause gut issues, such as indigestion and inflammation, just to name a few. What most people don’t know is that the mouth is part of the gut microbiome. That means that problems in your mouth can be caused by your gut, and problems in your gut can be caused by your mouth.

 It makes sense, doesn’t it? All bacteria, nutrients, and enzymes pass through the mouth on their way to the gut. In fact, 45% of bacteria species overlap between the mouth and gut. So, the next time you have a cavity, know that that doesn’t just mean presence of harmful bacteria in your mouth; it also potentially means dysbiosis (imbalance) of bacteria in your mouth and gut microbiome, which can result in digestive and other pervasive issues.

 The takeaway here is that your health starts in your mouth, and it’s not just your diet (i.e., what you put in your mouth), but your oral hygiene (i.e., how you care for your mouth) that can affect your digestive and overall health. So, listen to your gut. If something is not feeling right, contact your doctor right away.