Bacteria in the mouth (oral flora)

Even if you don't see or feels any of it: the oral cavity is full of life and activity! Millions of microorganisms cavort there, especially on the tongue. Doctors estimate that around two thirds of all oral bacteria colonize the jagged back of the tongue. Some people have a lot of bacteria on their tongue if they don't remove the tongue coating regularly.

The result is bad breath . Bacteria can also be found techsupportreviews on the teeth, the oral mucosa, in the spaces between the teeth, deeper gum pockets, in the gums and sometimes even in the root canal of the teeth. Dentists speak of tooth root inflammation or tooth nerve inflammation. A tooth root infected with bacteria and inflamed causes severe toothache - many people have already become acquainted with it.

The widespread disease tooth decay also causes holes in the teeth and causes toothache. The caries pathogen Streptococcus mutans forms sticky deposits in the mouth - biofilm or plaquedentists call this. A paradise for these bacteria in the mouth are hidden places that are difficult to get to with a toothbrush. This is where food residues collect, which the caries bacteria metabolize. This creates aggressive acids that attack the tooth enamel and cause tooth decay over time.

Oral flora: what is it?

The oral flora is the entirety of all microorganisms that live in the oral cavity. It differs from person to person: Each individual has a very special composition of bacteria in the mouth. The oral flora consists primarily of hundreds of different types of bacteria. Some species can only be detected in the oral flora, not even in the intestine - the organ in which countless bacteria and other germs also form the intestinal flora. In addition, fungi (especially the yeast Candida albicans), viruses and other microorganisms such as tiny unicellular organisms can be found in the mouth.

Such microbes of all kinds feel particularly comfortable in the mouth because it is warm and humid there and they can find sufficient food. Bacteria in the mouth are contagious. When kissing, for example, millions of germs migrate from one mouth to the other. The infection with the caries pathogen Streptococcus mutans usually occurs when parents kiss their offspring. Bacteria in the mouth from oral sex are also not uncommon.

Usually beneficial and harmful microbes keep each other at bay. However, certain influences can throw the oral flora out of balance. Then “bad” germs multiply more intensely.

This results in a healthy oral flora

A healthy oral flora has an important protective function. The microorganisms in the mouth keep harmful environmental influences away, ward off dangerous germs and help people to pre-digest food. An intact oral flora ensures that teeth and gums stay healthy. Some factors can upset the delicate balance of microorganisms in the mouth:

Examples are:

• poor oral hygiene
• wrong, very sugary diet
• stress
• smoking
• high alcohol consumption
• poor condition of teeth
• Age
• weakened immune system
• Use of medication, such as antibiotics
• Diseases like diabetes or cancer
   

Then the balance shifts in favor of some pathogens that put oral health at risk . There is a risk of bad breath, tooth decay, inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) or inflammation of the gums ( periodontitis ).

Is your oral flora healthy? The oral flora test shows it!

A dentist can test the number and composition of bacteria in the mouth to see how your oral flora is doing. He determines which bacteria settle in the oral cavity and saliva by means of a smear and a subsequent look under the microscope. Dentists sometimes send the swab from the oral mucosa to the laboratory. There the microbes are multiplied and precisely analyzed.

A saliva test also provides information about the yeast Candida albicans. Some particularly aggressive bacteria are associated with the development of periodontal disease. A bacterial test shows exactly which germs are responsible for damaging the tooth supporting structure. Microbiologists analyze the genetic material - the DNA - of the germs in the laboratory and determine the pathogen more precisely.

Types of bacteria in the mouth

The numbers of bacteria in the mouth is huge! Researchers estimate that billions of bacteria and around 500 different species can be found in the oral cavity. Even today, researchers are still discovering previously unknown subtypes of bacteria. These microorganisms can be divided into “good” and “bad”, that is, disease-causing.

Some bacteria need oxygen for their metabolic processes (aerobic), while others can do without the gas from the air (anaerobic). Their “food” is, for example, protein and sugar from leftovers. Some microbes are permanent guests (resident), others only romp around temporarily in the oral cavity (transient).

There is usually an elaborate balance between the microorganisms in the oral flora because they keep each other in check. However, if the oral flora is “damaged”, dangerous pathogens multiply, get out of hand and cause problems in the mouth, gums and teeth.

The oral flora must develop over time. A fetus in the womb does not yet harbor bacteria in its mouth. But microorganisms begin to colonize the oral cavity immediately after birth. Usually the first bacteria in the mouth are streptococci. Various other types of bacteria later appear as part of the oral flora, such as staphylococci or pneumococci.

After all, the composition of the oral flora is becoming more and more complex - especially when the first teeth erupt. During puberty, the oral flora changes again significantly due to the hormonal change (similar to that during pregnancy). The gums are supply with more blood and are softer. Under these conditions, it is easier for bacteria to settle in the gums and, for example, to cause inflammation of the gums.

Good bacteria in the mouth

Most of bacteria in the mouth are considered harmless and do no harm to teeth or gums. Some "good" bacteria in the mouth also have a protective function. They act as a "protective force" and even promote oral and dental health.

One example is the beneficial bacterium Streptococcus salivarius , which has anti-inflammatory properties and displaces germs. The bacterium is one of the first to settle in the oral cavity. The bacterium Streptococcus sanguinis also combats pathogenic germs and prevents tooth decay. It colonizes the oral cavity when teeth begin to grow.

Dangerous bacteria in the mouth

In addition to the "good" microbes, there are also dangerous bacteria in the mouth that promote tooth decay (cariogenic microorganisms) or gum disease:

• Streptococcus mutans : This bacterium is the main actor in the development of tooth decay. Parents transmit these bacteria to their children when they kiss or when they lick the pacifier and then stick it in the child's mouth. Caries bacteria metabolize the sugar from food and produce acids, especially lactic acid. This attacks the tooth enamel and creates holes in the teeth. Streptococcus mutans feels most comfortable in the plaque.
• Streptococcus mitis is part of the normal oral flora, but under certain conditions (e.g. increased sugar consumption) it is associated with the development of tooth decay.
• Lactic acid bacteria (lactobacilli) and pus bacilli (fusobacteria) promote tooth decay.
• Actinomycetes cause infections of the oral cavity.
• Veillonella parvula causes tooth decay under certain circumstances, such as a weakened immune system.
• Putrefactive bacteria often settle on the tongue and cause bad breath.
• The actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans bacterium is particularly dangerous and is responsible for diseases of the tooth support system (periodontitis). The germs Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia and Treponema denticola also play an important role in periodontitis. In the course of periodontitis, the composition of the community of microorganisms changes: atypical representatives can appear, for example Escherichia coli bacteria in the mouth, which further aggravate periodontitis. Usually, however, they prefer to live in the intestines.

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