{"id":304,"date":"2024-10-21T15:35:51","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T15:35:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentalcarenh.com\/blog\/?p=304"},"modified":"2024-10-21T15:35:51","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T15:35:51","slug":"how-many-bacteria-in-human-mouth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dentalcarenh.com\/blog\/how-many-bacteria-in-human-mouth\/","title":{"rendered":"How Many Bacteria Live in the Human Mouth?"},"content":{"rendered":"\"DigitalTo the naked eye, you look like a single organism. The truth is, though, that you are home to billions upon billions of microorganisms, including bacteria! While that might sound a little unsettling, it is actually pretty amazing. How many of those bacteria live in your mouth, and how can you maintain a healthy oral microbiome<\/a>? This blog post provides some helpful information.\r\n\r\n\r\n

How Many Bacteria?<\/h2>\r\nAccording to one estimate, there are about 700 species of bacteria that live in the human mouth, while there are billions of individual bacteria. Before you become too alarmed, remember that most of those bacteria are harmless. In fact, many of them are actually helpful!\r\n\r\nA well-balanced microbiome (a microbiome is simply the sum of all the microorganisms in a particular environment) can support your oral health, reduce your risk of systemic disease, and help to control inflammation throughout your body.\r\n

What Affects Your Oral Microbiome?<\/h2>\r\nYour oral microbiome started to grow at birth. In fact, prenatal factors can even affect the balance of bacteria in your mouth. Some research indicates that if your mother had gum disease during pregnancy, you are more likely to have more harmful bacteria in your mouth than you should, which can increase your risk of dental decay and gum disease later in life.\r\n\r\nOther factors that can affect your oral microbiome include your oral hygiene, your diet, and your genetics. Your DNA may play a big role in determining whether or not certain types of bacteria are likely to colonize in your mouth.\r\n

Maintaining a Healthy Oral Microbiome<\/h2>\r\nYou can support a balanced and healthy oral microbiome by:\r\n