How Oral Health Supports Your Immune System: What You Need to Know

Keeping your immune system healthy and strong is one of the main goals in achieving lifelong good health. As your oral health doctors, we’re sharing a few reminders in this month’s article about the role your teeth, gums, saliva, etc. play on your immune system and overall good health.

Our Mouth is the Gateway into the Body

According to the National Institutes of Health, there are OVER 700 species of bacteria and microorganisms that can live in/around your teeth, gums, tongue, saliva, and pockets between your teeth/gums. But don’t worry, not all bacteria are bad bacteria. Some of the microorganisms are essential to break down food and extracting the vital nutrients that are needed to maintain our health. The mouth serves as the gateway into the body, a point of entry for bacteria and germs to enter the respiratory system and bloodstream. The trick to maintaining good oral health, and overall health, is to keep the “balance of bacteria” in check and make sure the good bugs are outnumbering the bad bugs. 

Two of the most common inflammatory diseases of the mouth are gingivitis and periodontal diseases. The inflammation associated with gum disease can cause the immune system to weaken and ignore other parts of the body. Much like an army that diverts to one battlefront while the enemy attacks elsewhere, a healthy immune system will shift its attention to acute infections in our mouth while leaving others to protect other parts of the body.

What if I don’t have a strong immune system?

For individuals who don’t have a healthy immune defense, it is critical to take steps for optimal care of your mouth. Some of the more common immune system-related diseases include asthma, eczema, allergic rhinitis, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, heart disease, and inflammatory bowel disease. Other conditions that can weaken the immune system include certain cancer treatments, organ transplants, and medications for some conditions. The immune system can also be temporarily weakened during bouts with head colds, the flu virus, mononucleosis, and Covid-19. 

Whether or not you currently have a strong immune system response, developing and maintaining healthy oral habits is important; These habits are very similar to the strategies recommended for general healthy living, including:

• Getting adequate sleep
• Eating a nutrient-dense diet. Low in sugar and carbohydrates
• Effectively managing your stress
• Regular exercise
• Brushing/flossing your teeth twice a day
• Keeping your professional dental cleanings every six months
• Brushing your tongue daily with a brush or tongue scraper

Nearly half of all adults in the United States over the age of 30 have some form of gum disease. Even if you have a healthy immune system, the inflammation associated with gum disease can cause the immune system to work overtime. 

By taking active steps to ensure good oral health, you’ll be supporting your immune system in its ability to address oral inflammation quickly, preventing infections, tooth loss, or other more serious health issues. 

Supporting your good health

At Vacca Family Dentistry, we always welcome your questions. Feel free to email us your questions, stop by our office, or simply call us at 804-739-9191.