Have you ever wondered how many bacteria live in your mouth, what different kinds there are, or how fast they multiply? As interesting as these questions are, modern technology cannot provide us with hard numbers. Bacteria live on every surface within the mouth, and estimates of the number of different species there range between 500 and 650. Here’s some interesting information from your dentist about the different species of bacteria living in your oral cavity and what they do for your dental health.
How Fast Do Oral Bacteria Multiply?
The populations of some species of bacteria living in the mouth can double every twenty minutes under laboratory conditions. The mouth is a different jungle, however, and a strain of bacteria may not multiply as quickly if it has to compete with other species for resources or if the oral cavity is regularly subjected to proper oral hygiene. The population of bacteria living in the human mouth is about six billion, comparable to the number of humans living on Earth.
What Are Some Different Kinds of Bacteria Living in the Mouth?
If you think of your mouth as a sort of city, you’ll find that some bacteria are like good citizens who take care of their hometown while others are more like the criminal element that exploits and destroys it. Here are a few examples:
Pathogenic bacteria
Humans love sugar because it is full of easily absorbed chemical energy. Unfortunately, pathogenic bacteria love it for the same reason, and they are quite happy to feast on the residue left in the mouth by sugary foods. This gives them the fuel they need to multiply rapidly and excrete enamel-eroding acid as a metabolic byproduct. These guys are all too pleased to spread oral disease, and they gather in plaque on the teeth.
Pathogenic bacteria are the culprits behind tooth decay and gum disease, and if these issues are left untreated, they can spread to other parts of the body where they can potentially cause life-threatening secondary infections like sepsis.
Probiotic bacteria
Have you ever seen somebody pick up litter while walking down the street? Probiotics are your mouth’s equivalent of these concerned citizens. Probiotic bacteria help clean up plaque from your teeth and invasive germs from your gums. If you feel like your oral hygiene could use some reinforcements, taking probiotic supplements can bring even more of these helpful little guys into your oral ecosystem.
The bacteria that live in the human body are completely necessary for crucial life processes like digestion, and eating a good diet and hygiene can help keep these populations at more ideal levels. These bacteria are nothing to be afraid of. They only need to be understood and managed.
About the Practice
Columbus Dental Arts serves the oral health needs of the community of Columbus, NJ. Led by Drs. Maria Maiorino and Molly Makos Fraser, the staff goes above and beyond when it comes to patient service and dental health care. Areas of expertise include preventive, pediatric, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. For more information on maintaining a healthy oral ecosystem, contact the office online or dial (609) 324-9500.