Bacteria in Your Mouth May Increase the Risk of Gut Diseases; Here's How You Can Keep Your Mouth Healthy!

Bacteria that normally live in our mouth may contribute to digestion problems or gut diseases that may include inflammatory diseases (IBD), Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis. According to the study published in the journal Science, when certain strains of bacteria from the mouth make their way to the gut and settle in the intestine, they can easily trigger chronic inflammation under certain circumstances. The findings are preliminary and more research is needed to confirm the results in humans, the researchers suggested.

Previous studies have suggested that oral bacteria don't typically live in a healthy person's gut, because these bacteria are out-competed by other bacterial species already living in the gut. However, higher levels of oral bacteria have been found living in the guts of people with certain diseases, including IBD and colon cancer, the researchers said.

The study suggests that to target oral bacteria living in the gut could provide a new treatment for IBD and other gut diseases, the researchers said. For the study, researchers took saliva samples from patients with Crohn's Disease and IBD, and transplanted the sampled bacteria into mice bred to not produce their own gut bacteria. They found that a strain of bacteria in the saliva called Klebsiella pneumoniae could inhabit the intestines of the germ-free mice and activate types of immune cells known as "T Helper Cells", which in turn can trigger an inflammatory response.

It is imperative to keep your mouth clean in order to keep your teeth healthy. Here are some foods that you could add to your diet to maintain oral hygiene.

1. Apple

Apples are a great source of water and fiber that act as cleansing agents. It contains malic acid that boosts saliva production, hence removing bacteria from the mouth.

2. Carrot

Raw carrots are crunchy and firm, hence they force you to chew more than the normal foods. Chewing stimulates saliva production and helps neutralise the acids and enzymes in your mouth that cause harm to your enamel.

3. Spinach

Green leafy vegetables are super-efficient when it comes to oral hygiene. It has abundant magnesium that helps in building the enamel and keeps it healthy.

4. Raisins

Raisins increase the production of saliva and thus, prevent plaque build-up, stain and reduce the risk of cavities by neutralising the acidic environment created by other foods.