do you want to risk an infection in the biggest hole in your head?!

Hey guys, Amy talking the joys of oral hygiene with you on DNews today!

As many as 700 types of bacteria can live in our mouths, though most people only host

between 34 and 72 varieties. Some of these bacteria are innocuous, others known as probiotics

actually help us digest food. There are even bacterial strains that protect our teeth and

gums. But there are some bad bacteria living in your mouth as well.

One is called streptococcus mutans. This bacteria feeds on the sugars and starches you eat,

producing enamel-eroding acids as a by-product, which can lead to tooth decay. Another bad

bacteria is porphyromonas gingivalis, which is linked to periodontitis, a serious and

progressive disease that affects the soft tissue and the alveolar bone that support

the teeth causing tooth pain and in some cases tooth loss.

For most of us, our main dental issue will be plaque, the film that builds up on your

teeth and contains the bacteria that produces enamel-destroying acids. Regular cleanings

get rid of plaque, but if you don’t clean the plaque from your teeth it hardens into

tartar, which can get below your gums, causing inflammation and infection. That can open

a pathway into your bloodstream. Once that bacteria is in your blood, it can get anywhere.

The first place that bacteria-filled blood could go is your heart where there is some

evidence that it can lead to atherosclerosis, or a hardening of the arteries caused by plaque,

though this is a different kind of plaque than you'd find on your teeth. The plaque

in your arteries is made of cholesterol, fatty substances, cellular waste products, calcium

and a clotting agent called fibrin. It builds up and thickens the walls of the arteries,

constricting blood flow and increasing risk of a heart attack. Clogged or blocked arteries

can also restrict blood flow to the brain, increasing risk of stroke.

A recent single hospital study in Osaka, Japan, found that a quarter of stroke victims had

a bacteria called cnm-positive S. mutans in their saliva. The researchers acknowledged

that it’s a rare bacteria only 10 percent of people have, but it’s still enough to

reinforce the link between the oral bacterium and stroke.

And mouth bacteria can even follow a path to your brain, increasing risk of dementia.

A 2013 study from the University of Central Lancashire found a correlation between the

bacteria commonly associated with gingivitis and an immune response that may kill neurons.

This could ultimately change the brain in a way consistent with Alzheimer’s disease.

And, if that weren't bad enough, letting bacteria form colonies in your mouth can also lead

to lung infections, but not through the bloodstream… Instead you literally breathe oral microbes

into your lungs, where it can infect and spread.

And your oral health doesn’t just impact your body health, it can be a good indicator

of your overall health. For example: gum disease can be a sign of diabetes, painful mucosal

lesions are more common in people who are HIV positive, and tooth weakness or loss can

be a sign of osteoporosis.

So it should be said that this is a huge “more research is needed” topic since most studies

have small sample sizes and need follow-up work. And experts somewhat begrudgingly admit

that we just don’t know yet whether treating gum disease can reduce the risk of heart attack,

stroke, or dementia. But, really, do you need more motivation for keeping up with dental

visits than maintaining good teeth for chewing? Floss! Brush! And above all: go to the dentist!

And speaking of painful things in your mouth, confused about the difference between canker

sores and cold sores? We were, too, so Trace explains it in this video right here.

So how many of you always go in your yearly dental cleaning? I do! Let us know in the

comments below and don’t forget to subscribe for DNews every day of the week.