Your microbiome begins in the mouth

The topic of "microbiome " is currently on everyone's lips—and not just literally. While many people immediately think of healthy diets and probiotics when they hear the term "gut flora," the miracle of the microbiome begins much earlier: in the mouth.

What many people don’t know yet:

The oral microbiome is the origin of the entire bacterial balance in the body. It is a highly complex system of billions of beneficial microorganisms that protects us from disease, regulates inflammation, and is linked to the immune system.

But what happens when this delicate system is disrupted or deliberately destroyed? A new study provides disturbing answers.

New study: Listerine & Co. endanger the microbiome

In a recent study, the Microbiology Society took a closer look at a specific product: Listerine Cool Mint Mouthwash. The results are alarming. The study examined the daily use of the mouthwash with a focus on the oral microbiome.

The promise on the US bottle sounds impressive at first:

“Kills 99.9% of germs.”

But this is precisely where the problem lies.

Because not all bacteria are bad. Quite the opposite – a large proportion are essential for our (oral) health. In practice, the destruction of 99.9% of all germs also means the destruction of important and protective microorganisms.

The scientists summarize their results diplomatically but clearly: “These findings suggest that the regular use of Listerine mouthwash should be carefully considered.” (Source: https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.001830 )

And what does that have to do with toothpaste?

Quite a lot, actually. Many conventional toothpastes also contain questionable ingredients that are also found in the mouthwash mentioned above and can thus disrupt the delicate balance in the mouth: e.g., aggressive surfactants, preservatives, germ inhibitors, etc.

Denttabs originally arose from the idea of continuous loading. It wasn't until time had passed that the effects were so drastic.

Rethinking dental care - for our microbiome and our systemic health

We absolutely have to rethink: The key to true dental health is not eliminating, but supporting and maintaining healthy microflora.

Here is our short video about it: Here