Oral-Lung Microbiome & Ayurvedic Tongue Scraping

We have all heard the standard guidelines for oral health and hygiene: brush and floss your teeth, keep them clean to avoid tooth decay and in doing so, you will prevent bad breath and have a beautiful smile. This standard oral health approach oversimplifies our mouth’s beautiful complexity and microbiome. Bacteria live on all surfaces of our body, both internal and external. This microbiome plays an integral part in our bodily functions and health. The exploration and understanding of the mouth’s microbiome provide incredible insight into maintaining proper oral hygiene.

Like all body surfaces, the mouth is home to a complex ecosystem of bacteria. There are 700 species of bacteria in the oral cavity (Zarco et al., 2012). These bacteria live on both the hard tissue of the mouth (teeth) and the soft tissues (palate, tongue, etc.) (Zaura et al., 2009). However, the bacterial profiles of these different mouth areas are not uniform. Research has shown those mouth areas such as the maxilla, hard palate, soft palate, and even the sides of the tongue, compared to the top of the tongue, all have different bacterial colony compositions (Aas et al., 2005). The mouth microbiome is incredibly nuanced and complex, where a healthy balance and composition correspond to proper function and health. Like most research regarding the microbiome, a diverse microbiome in the mouth signifies a healthy colony (Zarco et al., 2012).

Saliva plays a vital role in regulating the health of the oral microbiome. We all know that bacteria are the cause of tooth decay and gum disease. However, it is not the mere presence of the bacteria that is the problem (Wade, 2013). As has already been discussed, the presence of bacteria on the teeth and gums is incredibly standard and healthy. Bacteria cause teeth and gum disease when a complex interaction between the bacteria and respective areas manifests disharmony and a lack of balance. Poor oral hygiene allows plaque to accumulate and overgrow, which is the primary source of the problem (Zarco et al., 2012). The colonies that develop on these surfaces can be described as biofilms. As these biofilms mature, acid-producing microbial colonies accumulate in dental plaque, lowering the oral cavity’s pH and creating an environment for more plaque to thrive (Zarco et al., 2012). In essence, a vicious cycle of poor dental health occurs when the accumulation of this biofilm of microbial colonies is left unchecked. Saliva plays an essential role by detaching the biofilms from these surfaces, which helps prevent the overdevelopment of harmful bacteria (Nieuw Amerongen & Veerman, 2002). This speaks to why biofilm detachment, perhaps aided by brushing, is a promising therapy for limiting the proliferation of dental plaque (Filoche et al., 2009). Additionally, it is crucial to appreciate and respect saliva’s vital role. Note that poor immune function can inhibit the proper flow of saliva (Zarco et al., 2012). Another classic example of holistic attention to the body’s health will go a long way in promoting overall well-being.

Given the importance of saliva, it is also essential to consider the impacts of mouth breathing over nasal breathing. Mouth breathers show an altered composition of proteins within saliva that indicate more oxidative stress and inflammation (Fan et al., 2020). The mouth and lung microbiomes are also incredibly intertwined (Gaeckle et al., 2020). Breathing through the mouth causes adverse changes to the mouth microbiome and the lungs. Mouth breathing accumulates biota in the pharynx and oral cavity, which increases the risk of respiratory disease (Fan et al., 2020). A simple technique to improve oral health is to stop breathing through your mouth and instead use your nose.

Another critical component of oral health and hygiene is the tongue. The tongue can be a source of dreaded bad breath. The furred tongue is the primary cause of bad breath (Pedrazzi et al., 2004). A furred tongue, or hairy tongue, is when the hairs of the tongue grow more prolonged than usual and allow for the over-accumulation of food, bacteria, fungus, etc. Cleaning the tongue becomes a vital routine to prevent the accumulation of substances that will cause bad breath. The question of whether to use a tongue scraper instead of cleaning the tongue over a standard toothbrush remains. There are two studies of note that focused on this exact question. One study found that the two tools performed equally in cleaning the tongue (Casemiro et al., 2008). The other study found that they did perform similarly, with the tongue scraper tool performing slightly better (Pedrazzi et al., 2004). These results show that both devices adequately clean the tongue and promote oral health and hygiene.

The mouth microbiome is beautifully complex. This ecosystem’s proper balance and health are essential for oral health and health across the body, specifically in the lungs. Aside from standard oral hygiene guidelines, remember to breathe through your nose and clean your tongue. Techniques such as this are small steps in promoting an even healthier ecosystem.