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MICROBIOME IN MY MOUTH:





             WHY DO I NEED TO KNOW?








        by Dr. Marilyn C. Sandor, DDS, MS

                                  n a           form sophisticated layers. Regarding those   to the basics with a diet consisting of less
                                  microscopic   layers on your teeth, you might recall   processed foods, reduces the sticky, clingy
                           Olevel, the          hearing the term plaque? When the plaque   carbs sources for the bad bacteria. Drinking
                            microbiome is the   biofilm forms on teeth, cavities can occur if   plain water helps control and keep neutral
                            population of all the   the bad, acid producing players outnumber   salivary pH, which again is not what the
                            tiny things that live   the good players.                  bad bacteria like. Lastly, consider taking
                            in and on your body.   Until now, very little was known about   probiotics and chewing xylitol gum. This
                            There are thousands   the actual composition and structure of the   will promote more good bacteria and move
                            of different species   plaque biofilm. All that we seemed to know  you toward a microbiome in harmony.
                            of tiny things, such   was that the less plaque a person had on   Watch for exciting technological
        as bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites and   their teeth, the less likely it was that they’d   advancements in the dental industry,
        more, living in harmony in a healthy person.  get a cavity. However, there was always   especially in the areas of diagnostics and
        Furthermore, there are different microbiome  someone out there that didn’t get cavities,   prevention.
        populations that thrive in different places.   despite hardly brushing. With the advent   From home, using your own phone, you
        One such place is inside your mouth!    of new diagnostic methods, we’re gaining a   can now have an Artificial Intelligence at
           While at first this might seem scary,   much better understanding why this could   home dental screenings and get a report on
        remember not all bugs are bad. Good     happen.                                where you might have plaque buildup or
        organisms can and do work to help you. For   It turns out that not only does the   tooth decay!
        example, there are actually good bacteria   recommendation to keep your teeth clean   At the dental office, there are new
        that help to digest food. Some even actively  have basis, the recommendation of having   ways to have your teeth cleaned with a
        help keep the bad ones                  a healthy diet is also proving to be true. It   special biofilm removing process that uses
        away, like those                        is now known that healthy diets lead to   a natural sugar that the bad players cannot
        responsible for                                     healthier, non-damaging    metabolize! See, learning a little about
        causing cavities,                                     bacteria, i.e. less acid   microbiomes will give you something to
        bad breath                                            releasing bacteria, that are   smile about!
        and gum                                                responsible for making     Interested in knowing more about AI
        disease!                                               holes in teeth!         or removing biofilm? Please contact
           These                                                  So what can you do   Dr. Sandor and her experienced team. They’ll be
        microbiome                                             now to promote a healthy  excited to tell you more. 239-592-0800
        ecosystems                                             microbiome? Going back














        DENTAL SELF EXAM NOW AVAILABLE AT: goodcheckup.toothlens.com













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     Life in Naples | May/June/July 2023                                                                                     43
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