Mouth Bacteria Can Cause Disease? Wait, What?Sounds far fetched, right? With better technology, came better instruments, came the studies showing mouth bacteria getting into places in our body and contributing to disease. Read on. Today we are going to talk about mouth bacteria sometimes referred to as oral bacteria or oral microbiome. The reason this is important is because oral bacterial infections can cause all sorts of health problems including interacting with our gut bacteria.  How Does Mouth Bacteria Get Into Our Body?Part of my training when I went to school to become a holistic nutritionist was the connection to the health of our mouth and how oral bacteria could affect our overall health. We also learned how in Chinese medicine the teeth are connected to our organs. When I first moved to Phoenix Arizona I had to seek out a new biological dentist and was lucky to find one. When I walked into his office he showed me a chart on the wall of all the teeth in the mouth. As he was handing me the chart in paper size I could keep, I recited the organs connected to the teeth. He was floored. He had never met a nutritionist who knew the organs connected to teeth. This is the power of Canadian Holistic training. It seems the American functional association is just starting to realize the impact of the oral microbiome and the connection to teeth and the rest of the body. What goes on in our mouth affects our overall health. Now we have a few good reasons to take care of our mouth. Research has found connections between oral bacteria and cardiovascular disease, migraines and now Alzheimer’s disease. Sounds far fetched? Not really. Every tissue in our body is connected to one another. What happens in the mouth can travel to other parts of the body via the blood and digestive system. Under our tongue we have direct capillaries connecting the entire blood circulation. These capillaries are so reliable, when rushed to a hospital for a heart attack, attending health professionals will give medication under the tongue to stop the heart attack. In one study, patients who underwent cardiovascular operations, Streptococcus mutans and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, weredetected in cardiovascular tissues and in their dental plaque. How does bacteria in the mouth get into the cardiovascular system? Under our tongue we have direct capillaries connecting the entire blood circulation. In epidemiological studies of the oral and systemic disease connection, evidence suggests a moderate association—but not a causal relationship, between periodontal infection and a contributing risk factor for heart disease. In some of the case case-control studies, ubgingival periodontal pathogenic infection may be associated with myocardial infarction, oral bacteria have been found in carotid atheromas and some oral bacteria may be associated with platelet aggregation. Another study found oral pathogens, can produce systemic disease and are known causative agents of infective endocarditis.  Could Your Relentless Migraines Be Connected To Your Mouth Bacteria?I'm going to be straight up here with you. For the last 5 years as I have entered into Peri-menopause, I have suffered with debilitating migraines. As I got closer to menopause the worse they got. Sure, I had imbalanced hormones. I took the hormones and felt worse. How can this be? The more I studied the gut microbiome and its connection to the oral microbiome the more I realised it was not my hormones rather, how my gut bacteria was affecting EVERYTHING including my mouth bacteria and triggering my migraines. It may sound crazy, but if you have done the research I have, it makes sense. You see, our gut microbiome changes in accordance to our hormonal cycle. Protective bacteria goes way down during our Progesterone phase, This is the perfect environment for less than desirable bacteria to release its toxins and disrupt hormones and lead to all sorts of unhealthy symptoms including migraines. Once I started working on my gut microbiome and my whole digestive system along with my liver the migraines are far and few between and only last a couple of hours when I do get one. This I can live with! According to a study connecting oral bacteria and migraines showed for the first time a potential link between bacterial nitrate, nitrite, and nitric oxide reducers and migraines, by reporting their higher abundances in the oral cavities of people with migraines than in the oral cavities of those who do not suffer from migraines. In other words, some bacteria help convert nitrates from foods into nitric oxide. In some, if they high counts of these types of bacteria has a higher likelihood of triggering migraines. The Connection to Alzheimer's May Be In Our Mouth Too?There is a connection with Alzheimer’s and the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis. (P. gingivalis). Source; "A Novel Approach for Purification and Selective Capture of Membrane Vesicles of the Periodontopathic Bacterium, Porphyromonas gingivalis: Membrane Vesicles Bind to Magnetic Beads Coated with Epoxy Groups in a Noncovalent, Species-Specific Manner What is Porphyromonas gingivalis?Porphyromonas gingivalis is a gram-negative, rod-shaped anaerobic bacteria found in the oral microbiome. It is when it is in its pathogenic state contributes to chronic periodontitis. This nasty rouge bacteria will also make its way into the upper gastrointestinal tract, the respiratory tract the colon and recent evidence has shown in the brain. Porphyromonas gingivalis, the key bacteria in chronic gum disease and has been found after death in the brains of people who had Alzheimer’s disease.  Researchers have found the toxic enzymes called gingipains created by the bacteria in the brain. What the research is showing is, gingipains are causing damage to human proteins and destroying brain cells and nerves. Studies of brains with gingipains are found more often in the brains of those inflicted with Alzheimer’s than those without. In the same study, researchers found gum infections can worsen symptoms in mice genetically engineered to have Alzheimer’s; and that it can cause Alzheimer’s-like brain inflammation, neural damage, and amyloid plaques in healthy mice. Researchers, suggest P. gingivalis could be a cause of Alzheimer’s but, it is not a result. Of course, drugs are now in trial phase to reverse Alzheimer’s disease and perhaps gum disease. Why wait for a drug? There are things you can do NOW to help prevent gum disease potentially leading to other health issues. See a holistic or biological dentist. If you have any dental appliances in your mouth have them tested for pathogenic bacteria. In fact, have your whole oral microbes tested so you know what to work on. This is extremely important if you are suffering with cardio vascular disease, diabetes, arthritis, migraines and Alzheimer’s disease (and have the genes predisposing you).
 Photo; @robinlovesdinos What About My Toothpaste and Mouthwash? Should I change these?Great question. If you are using conventional toothpaste and mouthwash you need to do a switch up for sure. Let’s explore why Fluoride is not the answer According to a a guest post on GreenMedInfo "Fluoride is best characterized as a poison that is used as a drug in a misguided attempt to prevent cavities.” This statement is not to be taken lightly. It is backed up with quite a lot of science. Several National Institute of Health sponsored studies published have shown low doses of fluoride consumed by pregnant women and bottle-fed infants can lead to permanent brain damage. In the same GreenMedinfo article, "Major findings from evidence-based science relevant to dietary fluoride confirm:
Why on earth, would you want to use or drink fluoride? There are tons of fluoride free products on the market and I have some really fantastic products in my free online store. All you have to do is sign up for a free account and then search by name. I’ll also include the product code to make it even easier for you. All you have to do is put in the code and the product will pop right up.  Why Do Non-Fluoridated Products Work?Another great question, The reason why non-fluoridated products work is because, there are no harsh or harmful chemicals or sugars which can damage your gums, teeth and oral microbiome. Some of these products you can also find at your local grocery and health food store. I always offer 10% off whatever you purchase through me. And, I will be honest, it helps me a bit as it is a great way to say ’thank you for the time you put into this article to keep me healthy and happy.” You are most welcome! Onward... Natural MouthwashThe products I recommend you should be able to find else where. I of course do have them in my online private store. After each product I recommend you will find a code. Once you sign up for a free private account you can copy the code into the search function and the product will pop right up. If you must use a mouth wash check out Spry Oral Rinse or Mineral Mouth Rinse by Trace Minerals. Trace Mineral’s Mineral Mouth Rinse is a gentle rinse that helps to promote fresh breath, and a clean feeling the natural way. It’s made with ConcenTrace® ionic trace minerals. This unique blend helps rinse your teeth and gums of food debris while the minerals help to neutralize odors and acidic foods that cause bad breath, leaving your mouth clean and your breath fresh. Trace Mineral’s Mineral Mouth ( T82861 ) Spry Oral Rinse in combination with proper brushing and flossing, it helps eliminate the build-up of bacterial biofilm-that slimy film that collects on healthy teeth. Spry doesn't use any artificial sweeteners, fructose or sucrose, and is sweetened only with natural Xylitol that has clinically proven oral health benefits. Spry contains Aloe Vera, chamomile and Echinacea for their soothing properties, and calcium glycerophosphate, which aids in the development of stronger teeth. In addition, Spry contains just the right amount of germ killing alcohol that doesn't produce an over-powering burning sensation found in some mouthwashes. Spry Oral Rinse; comes in Cool Mint ( XL0520 ) Cinnamon ( XL1206 ) Wintergreen ( XL1237 ) Make Your Own MouthwashIf you do not want to use mouthwash or want to save some green, try using coconut oil and some essential oils well known for their ability to kill pathogenic microbes including fungi and parasites. Essential Oils such as
 Source; Mechanism of action and target sites of the essential oils on microbial cells. Science Direct This is not magic or quackery. Essential oils have been used for centuries for ailments which are typically caused by a microbial imbalance. One study found essential oils contain a wide variety of secondary metabolites capable of inhibiting or slowing the growth of bacteria, yeasts and moulds.In fact, in the study, researchers are turning to plant based oils because the increasing resistance of microorganisms to conventional chemicals and drugs.  What Coconut Oil Should I use?You are just so on the ball with these great questions! Well done you! When it comes to coconut oil please use raw coconut oil. No, make that non-GMO raw coconut oil. America is about to be hit hard with Genetically modified (engineered) coconut products. So sad! When I was working in Mexico at an integrative Medical Centre, I was just finishing up my contract as the staff were getting ready to put the theory of oil pulling to the test. They had all read the book on oil pulling and it did not mention using raw coconut oil. What was really missing in the book was the fact oil pulling was done with raw sesame seed oil not coconut oil. I was getting into a bit of a struggle because the so-called expert failed to mention it does matter what type of oil you use. And the doctor in charge of the staff study did not see the advantage of raw over processed. I was kind of glad I was not going to be apart of the study however, I did go out of my way to purchase them all raw coconut oil for them. Why Raw Coconut Oil?Oil, in this case sesame and coconut oil have all of their properties intact. Coconut oil contains three essential medium-chain fatty acids; lauric acid, caprylic acid and capric acid. Lauric acid which when digested converts to monolaurin. Monolaurin is an excellent anti-microbial and can eliminate bacteria, viruses and fungi. 1, 2, 3. Caprylic acid (octanoic acid) also contains anti-microbial properties including antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Capric acid is converted through digestion in to monocaprin. It has strong antiviral and antimicrobial properties and can combat viruses. An Icelandic study found solutions containing monocaprin may be used as a denture disinfectant. Pretty powerful. Raw coconut oil is going to contain all three of these fatty acids, so why not stick to raw, right? When looking for Non-GMO raw coconut oil look on the back label. It should list the three
Health Benefits of Raw Sesame OilSesame oil is from sesame seeds. High in minerals, and antioxidants, sesame oil is something to consider adding to your diet or, at the very least, oil pulling. Studies have shown using raw sesame oil for oral pulling reduce the amount of streptococcus mutants in both teeth plaque and mouth saliva. Like coconut oil, sesame oil has wonderful anti-inflammatory properties can help with a toothache. I believe the only reason why coconut oil for oral oil pulling became popular over sesame oil is because coconut oil tastes better. Which Sesame Oil Should I buy?Ahh, glad to see you are willing to give sesame oil a go. It was after all, the first oil pulling used for mouth bacteria. In fact, this is as important as raw coconut oil. You want organic, raw sesame seed oil that is hexane free. If it is organic, it will be hexane free. If it is not, It will say right on the label “hexane free.” Hexane free sesame oil oil does not involve any chemical aid for the extraction process, so the oil is safe and pure. And, organic is just a better step up. But, if you can only find non-organic sesame oil make sure it clearly states "hexane free" then go for it! I have a bunch of wonderful organic hexane free sesame oil in my online store. I will include some products to look for plus the code if you are going to purchase on my online store. Just copy the code, plunk it into the search bar and it will pop right up! Pretty simple. Banyan Organic Sesame Oil comes in two sizes; 34 oz, 128 oz. The Pure, unrefined and certified organic product also comes in a glass bottle so that you do not have to worry about plastic and exenoestrogens leaching into this wonderful product. Code SESA2 Organic Black Sesame Seed Oil has one of the richest antioxidant profiles among plant oils. For thousands of years it has been used in ancient Indian Ayurvedic traditions for health conditions of the body, oil pulling and therapeutic massage. Black sesame oil is also anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and antiinflammatory. Code FAL966 Dessert Essence Coconut Oil Pulling Rinse contains coconut, sesame and sunflower oils. This signature dual-phase formula is a healthy solution to help support teeth and gums, helps remove impurities, plus a layer of Australian Tea Tree. Wintergreen and Spearmint Oils to freshen your mouth. Code D34370 What the Heck Is Oil Pulling?Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurveda, practice where you swish oil in your mouth, ‘pulling’ it through your teeth. It is believed the anti of pulling the oil through your teeth pulls bacteria and microbes from your gums and possibly your tongue. You can do this as well as use it like mouthwash, which can kill some of the harmful bacteria in the mouth, improve dental health and reduce bad breath. When I first gave this a go, I was having some discomfort in my gums and my teeth were yellowing. After a week of oil pulling with coconut oil the inflammation in my gums was gone. My teeth were also brighter, which I did not expect. Thinking about giving it a go? Grab one of the bottles of oil mentioned above and let me know how it goes! My Oil Pulling RecipeAs promised in my newsletter to my subscribers, here is my Coconut oil and sesame oil recipe. I have little individual jars for our bathroom. This is for a couple of reasons. The biggest reason so that what is in husband’s mouth does not end up in the jar. If it does, it’s all his. I would rather have my own jar-thank you very much! The other reason is, oil can get messy, so a little jar is quicker to manage and use up than a big jar. So, to a little 4-6 ounce jar During the winter; Get your coconut oil and sesame oil at room temperature. It will still be in a solid state however, easy to scoop out and put into the little jar. Fill the jar with a little coconut oil, say 1 ounce for a 4oz jar and 2 oz for a 6oz jar. Add 1 drop clove oil 1 drop rosemary oil 1 drop oil of oregano 2 drops of one of the following; spearmint, wintergreen or peppermint fill the rest with sesame oil, leaving room at the top for another round of the essential oil. 1 drop clove oil 1 drop rosemary oil 1 drops of one of the following; spearmint, wintergreen or peppermint Then mix the oils together with a knife. Summer Recipe; Your coconut oil and sesame oil will be in a liquid state one you leave it in your bathroom so just fill up with 1/2 coconut oil and 1/2 sesame oil then add; 2 drops clove oil 2 drop rosemary oil 1 drop oil of oregano 2 drops of one of the following; spearmint, wintergreen or peppermint You are more than welcome to play around with adding more or less of the essential oils I recommended or add different ones. This is the nice thing about doing it yourself. Give it a shake before use. For both recipes, add a heaping teaspoon to your mouth and swish and pull for at least 20 minutes. Spit into a trash receptacle. Do spit oil into the sink or toilet. It will clog your pipes. Then you can scrape your tongue with a tongue scraper and then brush your teeth as you usually do with a good fluoridated toothpaste.  What is a Tongue scraper?It is a long, thin, flat piece of metal that is bent in a "U" shape. See the picture above? Pretty simple concept. Simply hold the two ends of the scraper in both hands, sticking out your tongue, and place the scraper as far back on your tongue as possible. With gentle pressure, scrape the surface of your tongue in one long stroke, repeat 5 to 10 times. You can do this before you oil pull if you like or after. Tongue scrapers are pretty easy to find in health food stores, or online. If you are picking up supplies from my online store, the tongue scraper pictured above is also available. Use code TONGU to get yours today. it is from the same company as Banyan Organic Sesame Oil I recommended above for oil pulling. Toothpaste, Tooth Gel and Tooth PowderWe are so luck there are so many brands to choose from today that are sugar and fluoride free. Thank goodness! For Toothpaste, you are looking for gel, paste or powder which contains no fluoride. Brands like Spry, which contain Xylitol and Himalaya USA containing Neem & Pomegranate Toothpaste. Spry Toothpaste
Himalaya USA Neem & Pomegranate Toothpaste A trusted formula that helps fight plaque. Contains time-tested herbs including NEEM, Pomegranate, and Triphala. Plus Xylitol from Himalayan birch, a remarkable natural sweetener known to enhance your oral care experience and sparkling smile. Himalaya USA Neem & Pomegranate Toothpaste ( H20007 ) Designs For Health PerioBiotic Toothpaste. If you would like to strengthen your teeth and help balance your oral microbiome Check PerioBiotic™ Toothpaste which contains xylitol and calcium glycerophosphate, two active ingredients shown in research to promote dental and oral health. Periobotic toothpaste also features Dental-Lac™, a patent pending functional lactobacillus dental hygiene probiotic not found in any other toothpaste product. Research on Dental-Lac™, a specific Lactobacillus paracasei strain, has shown it competes with strains of oral bacteria, thereby helping to maintain healthy teeth and gums. PerioBiotic Fennel Toothpaste ( PEFEN ) PerioBiotic Spearmint Toothpaste ( PERISP ) Bio Botanical Research Inc Dentalcidin Toothpaste Biocidin Whew! What a Mouthfull (hehehe pun intended) This is by far my favourite for balancing the oral microbiome. Dentalcidin Toothpaste Biocidin contains anti-microbial essential oils;
Bio Botanical Research Inc Dentalcidin Toothpaste Biocidinwellevate.me/karen-langston ( B02173 ) Change Your Diet Photo; Deborah Breen Whiting Of course, you know I was going to talk about diet. Your diet affects your health and your mouth. Your gut microbiome is connected to your mouth microbiome. If you have a diet high in refined, packaged, processed foods, sugary drinks and little to no vegetables, nuts, seeds and quality animal protein your overall oral health is negatively affected. When I used to suffer with Crohn's disease, in an active disease state my gums were in an inflamed state too. When I was in a remissive state, my gums and overall oral health was better; a reflection of what was going on in the inside. As my diet improved and my health improved to the point of no evidence of Crohn's disease, my mouth and the pockets between my teeth improved to that of a healthy mouth. There is power in diet! Get the sugar, refined carbohydrates and sugary drinks out of your mouth. These cause your delicate oral microbiome to become unbalanced. Mainly because you are feeding the bacteria which can overgrow. One of these happens to be Porphyromonas gingivalis. We now know what this wee little pathogenic bacteria can do to sabbatouge our health. You do not have to wait for a miracle cure for what ails you or the perfect drug. You can take action Right Now to prevent illness such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, migraines and Alzheimer’s by incorporating these tips and really working on your oral microbiome. The 4 things we discussed today
Sign up for your free membership and get 10% off of your oral health care products where you also get free shipping. What happens in your mouth does not stay in your mouth. If you have an unbalanced microbiome, the once protective bacteria can become pathogenic and travel around your body causing illness. Who wants that? Let me know in the comments, which tips are you going to incorporate? Why or why not? Do you have any tips you can share? Looking forward to your comments. If these tips do not help you successfully reverse the symptoms or, you have had enough let’s work together. Email me at Karen@IamWorthit2.com or leave me a voice mail at 623 226.7003 I look forward to celebrating in your success. What My Email Subscribers Had to Say About this post....I had originally posted this in my email and my subscribers LOVED it. I hope you did too. Of course, I would LOVE to have you on my email list too! All you had to do is subscribe, confirm and you are in! OK, what are you waiting for? I have some free gifts for you too! Sign up now. Good morning Karen, I have always suspected this. Fantastic blog. You are amazing! Everything you write is of importance and of great significance to our over all health. I love that you span your topic to all different issues. Thank you Karen! Fondly, Dean Thank you Dean, I try hard to bring the world of the gut and the microbiome full circle into all perspectives of illness and health. I have a friend who sends me studies and articles every Monday. When she first came across a study connecting bacteria and Alzheimer's she sent it to me with a little note that said "Karen, you are on to something, there is a connection with the gut-way to go." As much as I would like to take credit, honestly, it was when I read the studies from Stephanie Seneff on amyloid plaque (which leads to Alzheimer's) from glyphosate. I started to wonder if there was a connection with the microbiome. Glyphosate wipes out our beneficial bacteria which then allows for other commensal bacteria to become pathogenic. I think we are in our infancy on this subject, however, when you look at the gut dysbiosis and relate it to the increase in illness, to me, it makes sense to work on the gut microbiome regardless of what the illness is. Thank you Dean Hi Karen, I loved, loved, loved (did I say loved? LOL) your email today. You talked about a biological dentist that was taken over by a holistic dentist. What is the difference between a holistic dentist and a biological dentist? How can I find one in my area? I really enjoy reading your emails and keep up the great work. I also share them with my co-workers in the office. They like them too. Thanks, Cheryl Hi Cheryl, Thanks for the love! Your co-workers can sign up and get their own subscription too the link is at the bottom of the email. Thank you for sharing my emails I appreciate you. The difference between a biological and holistic dentist I believer is much the same as a holistic nutritionist and a functional nutritionist; sign of the times. "Holistic" was the buzz word of the 90's -2000 or so, then it has slowly progressed from "integrative" to "functional" the new buzz word. I believe the same thing happened in Dentistry. First it was "biological" and now "holistic" however some call their practice "Integrative" or "Natural-Biocompatible Dentistry." They are licensed, they just have slightly different interests that integrates the mind, body, mouht connection. It could also depend on the country. When I was leaving Toronto, my holistic dentist was helping me to find a biological dentist because in the states "holistic" was not a buzz word. Seems now, Holistic dentistry is a thing. Confusing, I know. Biological, holistic, Integrative, dentists beliefs are
In Phoenix we both see Dr.Lisa Butler in Scottsdale. If you are looking for a holistic dentist in the USA check out The Holistic Dental Association or, if you are in another country including the USA and Canada check out the International Academy of Biological Dentistry & Medicine and Talk International. For Canada check out Holistic Dental Association. Hope that helps and good luck! Hi Karen, Wow I had no idea that there could be a connection to oral bacteria and Alzheimer's. My mother has Alzheimer's and she has really bad teeth. Now I am wondering if there was a connection. I am also thinking of having her tested. Is there a special way to test for bacteria in the mouth? Do I need to go to a holistic or biological dentist? Where do I find one? Thank you so much for sharing this information with me. I really appreciate it. wow you have me thinking. Carmen Hi Carmen,
You are welcome and I am sorry to hear about your Mum. Excellent question. I am not sure how dentists check for bacteria in the mouth. I would suggest getting in touch with either a holistic or biological dentist and ask if they test the oral microbiome. You can try the links I provided above to find a holistic/biological dentist in your country/area. Good luck, and if you do find one and get your Mum tested, let me know. Thank you, Karen Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and comments. If you have a question you would like answered, please send me an email and I will get it answered in an upcoming email. I would rather answer your questions instead of me finding something to talk about. This is an email service all about you, so what's on your mind? Email me
3 Comments
Annetta Quirion
9/29/2020 11:14:52 am
Very informative thank you! 10/19/2022 04:08:10 pm
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