You've probably heard the statement that the dirtiest part of the human body— this is the oral cavity. Indeed, according to scientists, there are about 160 types of microorganisms living there. They get into our mouths with food, water and air, and then actively multiply there. The fact is that our oral cavity is an ideal place for the development of microbes, because it is very warm (about 37 degrees Celsius), humid and safe. In addition, there are many places in the mouth to hide, and there is also plenty of food. In this article, we will find out what bacteria live on the surface of our tongue, on our teeth, and so on. We will also figure out what they are needed for and what will happen if there are fewer of them.
Right now, billions of bacteria live in the mouth of every person, which perform very important tasks for us. Image: vintage.kz
Contents
- 1 How many bacteria are in a person's mouth
- 2 What are bacteria in the mouth for
- 3 What bacteria live in the oral cavity
- 4 Diseases of the oral cavity
How many bacteria are in a person's mouth
Bacteria in the human mouth are distributed unevenly. They are mostly found on the surface of the teeth and tongue – they form a white coating. It is believed that one gram of plaque contains about 300 billion microbes. And one milliliter of saliva contains 900 million microbes.
Even if the mouth seems clean, it is still full of microbes
What are bacteria in the mouth for
Different types of harmless bacteria live in the human oral cavity, which perform different roles.
First of all, the oral microbiomeis needed to protect against pathogenic bacteria – “good” microbes kill “bad” ones. Some bacteria facilitate digestion by starting the process of carbohydrate breakdown in advance. Microbes also stimulate the immune system, helping the body to protect itself from diseases.
Most bacteria in the human oral cavity perform useful functions. Image: stomatologclub.ru
If the number of microbes in the mouth decreases, dysbacteriosis begins – an imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria in the oral cavity. As a result, a person may have health problems. But we will talk about this closer to the end of the article.
Everyone should know about this: What is the difference between bacteria, microbes and viruses?
What bacteria live in the oral cavity
From 30 to 60% of the oral microflora are anaerobic streptococci. These are bacteria that can live in the oral cavity without oxygen. They play a major role in breaking down food, but if they multiply excessively, they can cause diseases such as tooth decay and gum infections.
Among the anaerobic bacteria are veillonella. They do not cause tooth decay, since they do not process sugars, but feed on lactic acid, which is secreted by other bacteria. This helps reduce the acidity in the mouth and reduce the risk of tooth decay. In general, veillonella are our friends.
Veillonella under the microscope. Image: bacdive.dsmz.de
Also our good friends are bacteria belonging to the genera Propionibacterium, Corynebacterium and Eubacterium. They produce oxygen and vitamin K, which is very important for blood clotting and the health of bones and blood vessels.
More than 10 species also live in the mouth of every healthy person lactobacilli. These are also beneficial microbes that create comfortable conditions in the mouth for the reproduction of other bacteria. In general, they help maintain healthy oral microflora.
Lactobacilli make the human mouth more comfortable for other microbes. Image: kitchenerfamilydentist.com
Finally, everyone's mouth may contain bifidobacteria, which usually live in large quantities in the intestines. They produce B vitamins and antimicrobial substances that kill pathogens.
It is important to note that each person is unique, and the ratio of the above microorganisms is different for everyone.
Related article:What Nasty Bacteria Are Living on Your Smartphone Right Now
Oral Diseases
If a person is often stressed, drinks and smokes a lot, and does not maintain oral hygiene, he or she may develop dysbacteriosis. In simple terms, the number of beneficial bacteria in the mouth decreases, and the number of pathogenic microbes increases.
Dysbacteriosis often causes bad breath, the development of caries, bleeding gums, the appearance of ulcers on the oral mucosa and many other health problems.
An unpleasant odor is a sign that something is wrong with the oral microflora. Image: vostok.today
If symptoms of dysbacteriosis appear, it is better to immediately contact a dentist. In most cases, patients are helped by professional oral cleaning, taking vitamin complexes and treating diseased teeth.
Microscopic creatures live not only in our oral cavity, they are spread throughout the body. Without them, we would often get sick, because they play a very important role in protecting our body from pathogenic bacteria.
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