Similar to the microorganisms that live in your gut, your mouth is full of tiny bacteria that can be both beneficial or harmful to your health. The beneficial bacteria, which are also known as probiotics, aid in the digestion of foods, and protect our teeth and gums from the bad bacteria, which can easily take over. Bad bacteria is disease-causing and leads to an array of oral health conditions such as bad breath, gingivitis, periodontitis, cavities, plaque build-up and even more scary is the recent analysis led by NIA scientists suggests that bacteria that cause gum disease are also associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, especially vascular dementia.

Keeping our mouths healthy is not only important for our teeth health, but it’s also important for whole body health. Infections and bacterial overgrowth in the mouth can travel throughout the body’s system, leading to cardiovascular disease, bacterial pneumonia, diabetes, and low birth weight. Are you freaked out yet? Yup, me too. However, all of this is easily preventable!

While the bad bacteria is always present to some degree, it can be kept in balance with good oral practices, targeted nutrition, and a few holistic cleaning techniques.

Tongue Scraping: Also called jihwa prakshalana, is a cleansing practice that is widely utilized in the Eastern and holistic world. It is the practice of taking a metal tongue scraper and pulling it over the tongue in order to remove its coating. By removing the coating, or soft plaque from the tongue, you are removing most of the bacteria and other debris that are the primary source of bad breath, plaque or tartar, and acids that may lead to tooth decay. The best part is that the tongue is left clean and pink, allowing for a truly refreshing taste in the mouth.

We begin the digestive process the moment we put food in our mouth. If our tongues are coated with bacteria, food debris, fungi, toxins, and/or dead cells (which is much more common than you think), our tongues cannot properly indicate the foods we are eating, thus send the signals to our bodies on what sort of digestive enzymes and how much stomach acid is needed. Thus, scraping your tongue is just as good for your belly as drinking hot water.

Dental research has shown that tongue scraping is even more effective at removing toxins and bacteria from the tongue than a toothbrush. When we don’t scrape our tongues, these toxins get reabsorbed by the body. This causes digestive and other issues, depending on your ayurvedic dosha, mind-body type. Tongue scraping also makes our taste-buds more sensitive, allowing us to further taste our food and preventing us from overeating.

Oil pulling: A simple swish and swirl of your favorite oil is the answer to fresher breath, whiter teeth and a toxin- free body. The practice of oil pulling literally pulls toxins from the oral cavity, which is then spit out and cleared from the body. A research study indicated that oil pulling reduced plaque-induced gingivitis, and the bacterium Streptococcus mutans, which is known to cause cavities. 

The most effective oil pulling is done by placing around a tablespoon of cold pressed organic sesame oil into the mouth and swishing the oil around the mouth for approximately 10-15 minutes and then spitting it out.Other oils such as extra virgin cold pressed coconut, sunflower and olive oil have been used, although sesame oil is considered one of the best oils for this practice. 

Ancient Ayurvedic health practitioners believed that oil pulling could reduce more than just diseases of the mouth and throat. Today, many holistic practitioners tout its use for a variety of health concerns. It is believed that these oils help the lymphatic system of the body as harmful bacteria are removed and beneficial microflora are given with a healthy environment to flourish. Because of this holistic perspective, oil pulling has been used as a preventative health measure for many other conditions.

Other possible benefits of oil pulling for overall health include: Migraine relief, correcting hormone imbalances, reducing inflammation of arthritis, helps support normal kidney function, and reducing symptoms of allergies, plus many others.

Oral Probiotics: Yes, you’re probably already taking a probiotic for your gut, but your mouth needs them too. The mouth needs good bacteria too, which is why taking oral probiotics can be extremely beneficial, especially if cavities are a frequent occurrence. The more good bacteria you have, the more of a defense you have against the bad bacteria, reducing the incidence of inflammation and infection.

The major differences between gut probiotics and oral probiotics are the types of organisms included in each, as well as the method of delivery. Gut probiotics contain bacterial strains native to the gut. They’re also typically taken in the form of a capsule that has been designed to resist the powerful gastric juices and acidic pH of your digestive system. Dental probiotic supplements are typically given via lozenges, chewable tablets, or probiotic drinks which are meant to sit in your mouth while they dissolve.