Gut Health Los Angeles, CA
Oral health and gut health have a close relationship. Tending to your oral microbiome will help you maintain a healthy gut and prevent health problems. While most are beneficial, bacteria that migrate from your mouth and travel to your gut can change the balance of your gut microbiome. This may have consequences for your overall health. A total health dentist can recommend certain practices or procedures that help you maintain a balanced microbiome to keep your mouth and gut healthy.
Approaches to oral care that encourage good gut health are available at Vatan Dental Group in Los Angeles and the surrounding area. We provide total health dentistry and offer a range of services, including strategies for preventative health. Call us at (310) 906-1300 to learn more.
Oral Microbiome
The mouth, much like the digestive system, is host to several microscopic organisms such as bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Microorganism populations that colonize in the body are called microbiota or microbiome. The oral microbiome is largely helpful, protecting the body from unwanted stimuli and harmful bacteria that cause gum disease and bad breath. However, if oral bacteria become overgrown, unbalanced, or spread to other parts of the body, it can negatively affect a person's health.
Therefore, maintaining the right balance of bacteria in the mouth is essential to good health. Overgrown oral microbiota can travel through the body via swallowed saliva, nutrients, and drinks and interact with other microbiomes in other body sites. Problematic bacteria that make it through the digestive system, for example, can further disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome, potentially contributing to several serious health problems.
“Maintaining the right balance of bacteria in the mouth is essential to good health.”
Bacteria and the Digestive System
The mouth is a natural breeding ground for bacteria, especially since it acts as an entryway to the digestive and respiratory tracts. Fortunately, most of such bacteria are harmless and can be kept at bay with the body's natural defenses and good oral hygiene. However, improper maintenance may allow bacteria to flourish, leading to oral infections. This oral bacteria can make its way to the gut, changing the microbiome and potentially influencing its immune defense.
This may lead to colon conditions such as Crohn's disease, gluten sensitivity, and colitis. Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation of the digestive tract. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, fatigue, malnutrition, severe diarrhea, and weight loss. People with gluten sensitivity, as the name suggests, have issues with digesting gluten. They may experience fatigue, leg numbness, muscle cramps, and stomachaches. Finally, colitis is a condition that causes the inflammation of the colon's inner lining. Primary symptoms depend on the exact cause of the condition but generally include abdominal pain, cramping, and diarrhea.
“…oral bacteria can make its way to the gut, changing its microbiome and potentially influencing its immune defense.”
Oral Health and Other Body Systems
A balanced microbiome is a sign of health to the immune system. The body's microbiome serves as a signal of homeostasis in which the overgrowth of certain oral bacteria provokes an immune response. Both oral and gut dysbiosis get associated with people who have chronic inflammation (for example, in rheumatoid arthritis) or complications related to the immune system.
The endocrine system, which functions to maintain homeostasis through hormone secretions, is also influenced by oral health. Changes in the oral microbiome signal a shift in homeostasis and compel the endocrine system to adapt and release excess hormones. Often, the first signs of endocrine dysfunction are recognized during a dental examination.
Poor oral health can also affect your metabolism. For example, oral bacteria causing damage to the intestine further affects the gut's ability to metabolically regulate fat and insulin levels. Some healthy gut microbiota interacts with undigested carbohydrates and helps the body store fats. When the gut microbiome gets disrupted, diseases like diabetes and metabolic syndrome may arise.
“Overgrowth of certain oral bacteria may provoke an immune response.”
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Gut Health in Los Angeles, CA
The Oral-Gut-Brain Connection
Several recent studies have confirmed the gut's connection to the brain, heart, and liver — but these studies often neglect to discuss the impact of oral health on the gut microbiome. Dysbiosis of both oral and gut microbiome can influence mental health and may contribute to degenerative diseases like dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
An unbalanced microbiome can affect the brain both directly and indirectly. For one, dysbiosis may stimulate the formation of plaques, which get tangled in brain tissue and neural fibers, impairing brain function. Second, metabolites produced by certain bacteria in the gut can interfere with special immune cells found in the brain, called microglia, which elicit an inflammatory response damaging to healthy brain tissue.
“Dysbiosis of both oral and gut microbiome can influence mental health.”
Questions Answered on This Page
People Also Ask
Q. Are oral conditions genetic or a result of environmental factors?
Q. What pre-existing conditions are affected by dental health?
Maintaining Gut Health
There are many things individuals can do to maintain their gut health at home. Lowering their stress levels is critical, as is getting enough sleep. They should eat slowly, stay hydrated, and take a pre- or probiotic. Some may also benefit from checking for food intolerances and changing their diet accordingly. However, nothing can replace the expertise of a complete health dentist.
Though most dentists are aware of the link between gut health and oral health, traditional dentists still tend to focus on treating isolated symptoms rather than the root cause of a patient's condition. This can be a costly mistake, as poor gut health may lead to periodontal disease and dental decay. A complete health dentist can identify signs of poor gut health and stop its adverse effects. Furthermore, complete health dentists are not limited to diagnosing and treating oral health conditions. They can often recognize the signs of other systemic diseases associated with poor oral health.
Poor gut health often starts when bacteria enter the mouth, cause oral infections, and spread to other parts of the body. Vatan Dental Group is proud to help patients maintain their total health through personalized treatment tailor-made to fit each individual's unique needs. This involves regular cleanings, dental exams, wellness visits, and various other dental treatments a patient may need. Our offices can also, with patient permission, communicate with other healthcare providers to provide the most comprehensive care plan possible. Poor gut health may lead to several other health conditions. We can help patients maintain their oral hygiene to prevent any unnecessary complications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the oral and gut microbiome?
A. The oral and gut microbiome describes a collective colony of microscopic organisms. They include bacteria that inhabit the soft tissues of your mouth and digestive system, respectively. The gut microbiome is the largest microbiome in the body with the second largest being the mouth.
Q. How does the microbiome affect my health?
A. Beneficial microbiota fights off harmful bacteria and stimuli and helps maintain homeostasis. But if problematic bacteria become overgrown or spread, they can cause damage to healthy tissue. This can mess with body functions, inviting inflammation and disease.
Q. How are oral health and gut health linked?
A. The mouth is the gateway to the digestive system, and if harmful bacteria associated with oral health migrate to the gut, the gut microbiome becomes unbalanced. That signals to the immune system that something is off and sets off an inflammatory response. Unwanted inflammation can damage the tissue lining the gut resulting in "leaky gut" syndrome.
Q. What can I do to improve oral health?
A. Eating fiber-rich and probiotic-rich foods help naturally keep the mouth clean while supporting healthy digestion. Of course, maintaining daily dental hygiene habits accompanied by regular dental check-ups will help you improve your oral health.
Q. Why is total health dentistry important for overall health?
A. Studies show that the health of the mouth and the health of the body are closely related. Adopting healthy dental habits may reduce your risk of developing other health problems. Ask your total health dentist what changes you can make to ensure good overall health.
Scan here to view this page, Gut Health, on mobile
Dental Terminology
Call Us Today
Proper gut health maintenance is critical to good oral and overall health. We at Vatan Dental Group may be able to help. Call us today at 310-906-1300 to schedule an appointment or to learn more about our services.
Helpful Related Links
- American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Clinical Terms. 2024
About our business, license, and website security
- Vatan Dental Group was established in 2012.
- We accept the following payment methods: American Express, Cash, Check, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa
- We serve patients from the following counties: Los Angeles County
- We serve patients from the following cities: Los Angeles, Inglewood, Westchester, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Culver City, Fox Hills, Hawthorne, El Segundo and Santa Monica
- CA (License #49259). View License Information and Specifics
- National Provider Identifier Database (1740278662). View NPI Registry Information
- Norton Safe Web. View Details
- Trend Micro Site Safety Center. View Details
Scan here to open directions to Vatan Dental Group on mobile
Back to top of Gut Health
Related Posts
Your Role In Clear Aligners Treatments
Clear aligners are nearly invisible and allow people to straighten their teeth discreetly. Aligners are most suitable for patients who can commit to treatment. It is crucial to follow treatment guidelines for quick and effective results. Read on to learn more about your role in clear aligners treatments.Aligners are clear, plastic-like trays that are worn…
The Role Of A Sleep Medicine Trained Dentist With Treating Sleep Apnea
The growing number of sleep apnea cases needs the collaboration of health care professionals. Several treatment options are now available for people suffering from this sleep disorder. Your specially trained dental care professional can help you along the way. If you want to find out what role a sleep medicine dentist has in treating sleep…
The Root Canal Procedure Explained: Step-by-Step
A root canal removes the interior living tissues of a tooth in order to combat infection or address damage. While it is not a dentist’s first choice, it can be necessary when no other options will save the tooth. If you are scheduled for a root canal, you may have heard that this procedure causes…
Explore additional topics covered on our website:
Call Us Today
Scan here to call Vatan Dental Group on mobile
