The oral flora usually only becomes an issue when damage has already occurred - and that has consequences. Here you will find out how you can prevent these consequences and build healthy oral flora.
Millions of bacteria fight for their existence in our mouth every day, and these are not just good bacteria, but also harmful ones. So what happens when the harmful bacteria take over? Harmful microorganisms in the mouth can not only lead to inflammation, but also to various diseases. If the oral flora has become imbalanced, it doesn't have to stay that way forever, because the positive bacteria can be rebuilt with targeted measures.
Building oral flora: What is oral flora?
The oral flora, a complex ecosystem made up of billions of microorganisms, forms an individual microworld in our mouth. This includes hundreds of species of bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa that colonize each person individually. In addition, the colonization of bacteria is influenced by diet, oral hygiene and age. However, certain bacteria can also contribute to unwanted problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. The focus should therefore be on strengthening healthy bacteria, and probiotic solutions can also provide good support.
Build up oral flora: Healthy vs. disturbed oral flora
What is the difference between healthy and disturbed oral flora? Here you can find out the characteristics, causes and symptoms:
Healthy oral flora: characteristics
A healthy oral flora is characterized by a balanced ratio of good and bad microbes. The positive microorganisms play a crucial role by protecting against pathogens and diseases. In contrast, harmful microbes can create the ideal environment for viruses and bacteria. A balance between the two groups of bacteria is therefore essential for optimal oral health, which can be promoted very well through conscious care.
Our oral flora consists of a variety of bacterial strains and groups. If the ratio becomes imbalanced, this is referred to as a disturbed oral flora.
Disturbed oral flora: causes and symptoms
Imbalances within the oral flora can be caused by various factors such as stress, smoking, alcohol consumption, poor oral hygiene and diabetes, which in turn can lead to disturbed oral flora.
These causes, symptoms and diseases can occur if the oral flora is disturbed:
1. Disturbed oral flora: causes
A disturbed oral flora can have these causes:
- Inadequate or infrequent oral hygiene
- No use of dental floss
- Consuming lots of sugary foods
- High alcohol and tobacco consumption
- Regular use of medications such as cortisol and antibiotics
- Prolonged or persistent stress and overwork
- old age
- Excessive use of mouthwashes
2. Disturbed oral flora: symptoms
The following symptoms can occur if the oral flora becomes imbalanced:
- Small wounds in the mouth and throat area
- Herpes sores in the mouth area
- Burning of tongue and/or mucous membranes
- Bad breath caused by too many harmful bacteria
- Inflamed gums and bleeding gums
- Frequent occurrence of tooth decay
3. Disturbed oral flora: diseases
If disturbed oral flora is not treated in a timely manner, the following diseases can occur:
- Damage to the gastrointestinal tract as the harmful bacteria spread throughout the body
- Muscle and joint pain caused by strong autoimmune reactions
- Gingivitis such as periodontitis and periodontal disease
Building oral flora: The 7 best tips
If the oral flora is already impaired, the focus is on specifically eliminating harmful bacteria. With the help of the following 7 tips, the oral flora can be restored specifically and effectively.
- Regular oral hygiene: Care should be taken to brush teeth thoroughly at least twice a day and carefully clean the spaces between teeth to effectively remove plaque.
- Fluoride rinsing solutions: Anyone who supplements their daily oral hygiene with fluoride rinsing solutions can ensure additional protection for their own dental health. Fluoride plays a crucial role in hardening tooth enamel and can help prevent tooth decay.
- Tongue care: Daily care of the tongue is an essential part of holistic oral hygiene. When you scrape the tongue, especially the back of the tongue, not only food particles are removed, but also harmful microbes that like to settle there. In addition to causing bad breath, these microorganisms can also contribute to various oral problems.
- Professional teeth cleaning: Professional teeth cleaning can also effectively remove stubborn deposits. During these sessions, the dentist can thoroughly remove tartar and plaque, especially in areas that are difficult to reach.
- Change your toothbrush regularly: The toothbrush should be replaced at least every three months as worn bristles lose their effectiveness and broken bristles can injure tooth surfaces.
- Drink tea: The integration of black and green tea also positively supports oral health. These teas contain natural substances that can strengthen teeth. In addition, they have an antioxidant effect, which helps to fight free radicals and thus supports health within the oral cavity.
- Anti-inflammatory diet: Consciously consuming anti-inflammatory vegetables such as garlic, broccoli, tomatoes, chili and ginger can not only reduce inflammation in the mouth, but also help support the balance of oral flora.
Build up oral flora: take probiotics
Although a balanced diet and thorough dental hygiene are the basis for healthy oral flora, additional measures often need to be taken. Mouthwashes are often used as a supplement, but traditional mouthwashes can only remove a fraction of the bacteria and also have another problem - they eliminate both good and harmful bacteria.
In contrast, probiotics are live bacteria that specifically promote the growth of healthy bacteria while at the same time curbing the prevalence of harmful microorganisms. This is especially important after taking antibiotics and antiseptics, which can destroy not only disease-causing but also health-promoting bacteria.
Our recommendation: The probiotic lozenges from PRObiom Dental
The lozenges from PRObiom Dental demonstrate their effectiveness in these three areas:
- Periodontitis: In cases of periodontitis, PRObiom Dental supports the restoration of a balanced oral flora. The bacterium Streptococcus salivarius M18 helps to displace harmful bacteria, which can have a positive effect on the progression of periodontitis.
- Tooth decay: The disruption of the bacterial balance in the oral flora leads to the formation of dental plaque, which contains pathogenic bacteria that cause tooth decay. PRObiom Dental helps restore this balance and displace harmful bacteria, which can reduce the formation of plaque.
- Bad breath: The most common cause of bad breath is the accumulation of harmful bacteria that produce sulfur compounds. PRObiom Dental helps to kill these bad bacteria and thus contributes to the creation of a balanced oral flora, which can counteract bad breath.
The targeted use of PRObiom Dental can therefore support comprehensive oral care and help to specifically address problems such as periodontitis, tooth decay and bad breath.
Build up oral flora: These home remedies help
Promoting healthy oral flora can also be supported by some effective home remedies:
- Natural yogurt: Natural yogurt contains probiotic bacteria that contribute positively to the oral flora and promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the mouth.
- Sage: Sage has antimicrobial properties and can help reduce bacteria in the mouth. Sage can also be used as a tea as a natural mouthwash.
- Mint: Mint has a refreshing effect and also has antimicrobial properties. Using mint can not only freshen your breath, but also support the oral flora.
- Parsley: Parsley is rich in vitamin C and has anti-inflammatory properties, which is why chewing parsley can promote oral health.
- Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil has powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. A diluted solution of tea tree oil can be used as a mouthwash to reduce inflammation.
In conclusion, integrating simple habits such as regular dental hygiene, the use of probiotics and the targeted use of home remedies can have a positive impact on the bacterial balance in the mouth. We would be happy to support you on this path!