Preserve the mouth microbiome, don't kill it, for it is connected to your gut

“2 out of 3 Americans use Mouthwash”

Am starting to think there isn’t a single product out there that doesn’t harm us in some way. pic.twitter.com/NE4RJaUDoL

— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) September 7, 2024 

Thank you to Wejolyn.  

International Journal of Dental Hygiene explains that,

Five controlled clinical studies were included. These studies found associations between the daily use of mouthwashes and changes in the oral microbiome, but the nature of the effect varied according to the mouthwash. Chlorhexidine (CHX) rinses lowered microbial diversity. While 7-day use of CHX led to increases in the abundance of Neisseria,  Streptococcus,  and Granulicatella and a decrease in the abundance of Actinomyces, its prolonged use led to widespread reductions in several genera and species. Cetylpyridinium chloride-containing mouthwashes specifically lowered the abundance of gingivitis-associated genera. In contrast, N-acetyl cysteine-based mouthwashes did not promote changes in the oral microbiome. 

but concludes that it "favors the resolution of dysbiosis."  Contradictory.  How can these mouthwashes resolve dysbiosis when 

Dr. Alex Rinehart reminds us that,

Our system is normally protected from unwanted bacteria by the acidity of the stomach from hydrochloric acid production, and in the small intestine from bile acids. Yet the system isn’t perfect, and doesn’t always stop inflammation and toxins from finding their way into the blood from the gums.   

The oral microbiome is quite diverse. There are up to 700 species of bacteria in the mouth at any given time (3) – surpassing the 300-500 species of bacteria found in the gut (4). The bacteria in the gums will differ from the bacteria on the lips, as well as the cheek surface, the tongue, or the upper palate.

. . .

With more growth of the acid-producing bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans – the pH change not only leaches calcium from tooth enamel as part of the buffering process – the calcium can only do so much before the mouth becomes increasingly acidic due to the high growth of lactic acid-producing bacteria.

. . . 

A number of conditions have been linked to imbalances in the oral microbiome including:

Appendicitis, pneumonia, inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy complications, brain infection, respiratory infection, as well as lung ,liver, or spleen inflammation

In the past, our natural human microbiomes were tailored to our local and culturally traditional food supply

Growing your own food is more than just being economical or fresh. It helps to build a local biome rather than relying on the mixed biome from foods around the world. And because that chain of command has been so reliable we often don't question it or bother to cater to our own individual microbiome closer to home.

From page 88 of Sabine Hazan's Let's Talk Shit:

In the past, our natural human microbiomes were tailored to our local and culturally traditional food supply.  Now, we ship foods all over the planet, resulting in a worldwide microbiome shift.  Is this good or bad?  If we know that decreasing microbial diversity is linked to obesity, it could be good.  But we also know that the introduction of new bacteria can come with costs.  There may be bacteria introduced in our food chain that our own microbiome is not accustomed to that causes dysbiosis.  These are questions that can only be answered by research and time.