How Many Oral Bacteria Live in Your Mouth?

Bacteria are everywhere. They’re in food, in plants, and in different parts of the body. As abundant as they are, many people are unaware that not all bacteria are bad. In fact, you naturally have many kinds of bacteria in your mouth. Some can cause cavities, but some can help keep your body healthy. Read on to learn about how many oral bacteria the average person has in their mouth and how they impact your body and smile.

How Many Oral Bacteria Do People Have in Their Mouths?

According to studies, most people have over 20 billion microbes in their oral cavity. Genetics, the kinds of foods you eat, and how often you brush your teeth are all things that influence how many oral bacteria are in your mouth.

The biggest challenge is that bacteria reproduce. Researchers found that the number of microbes in the mouth doubles every five hours. This means that if the average person brushes their teeth one morning and doesn’t do it again until the next one they will have around 100 billion oral bacteria in their mouth.

Are Oral Bacteria Dangerous?

Our mouths create the perfect environment for bacteria since they’re damp, dark, and warm. Fortunately, the majority of oral bacteria won’t hurt you. This is because saliva contains enzymes that kill some bacteria. Other microbes that you swallow will be killed by your stomach enzymes.

However, there are several kinds of bacteria in the mouth that can lead to oral health issues. They feed off the sugars in the foods you eat and release acids that attack your tooth enamel. This makes your smile more susceptible to cavities. Dry mouth, which occurs when you aren’t producing enough saliva, also allows bacteria to thrive and may lead to gum disease. Some microbes also release foul-smelling gasses that cause halitosis, which is chronic bad breath.

4 Tips for Keeping Your Mouth Healthy

Now that we’ve discussed how some bacteria can harm your smile, what can you do about it? There are a few things that you can do to keep oral bacteria in check, including:

• Brush your teeth – Spend two full minutes in the morning and again at night cleaning bacteria, plaque, and food particles off your pearly whites.
• Floss nightly – Clean between your teeth every day to remove 40% of the plaque on your smile.
• Rinse with mouthwash – Regularly use an ADA-approved mouthwash to get rid of bacteria in places you can’t reach while brushing and flossing.
• Eat a balanced diet – Be sure to limit how many sweet and carb-heavy foods you eat. Increase your intake of lean meat, fish, fruits, veggies, and dairy since these are good for your smile.

Not all oral bacteria are bad, but it’s important to protect your smile from the ones that are. By doing this, you can avoid oral health issues and keep your pearly whites looking lovely!

About the Practice

Waterbury Smiles is here to help patients throughout their journey to a healthy, beautiful smile. Led by Drs. Luciano Marini, Ann Marie Mancini, and Alexandra Galante, they take the time to understand the needs of each patient so they can administer the best possible care. Are you ready to set up an appointment or do you want to learn more about their services? If so, you can contact Waterbury Smiles at (203) 575-9097 or visit their website today.