{"id":196,"date":"2022-12-12T01:44:40","date_gmt":"2022-12-12T01:44:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cambriasmiles.com\/blog\/?p=196"},"modified":"2022-12-19T01:45:09","modified_gmt":"2022-12-19T01:45:09","slug":"how-many-oral-bacteria-are-living-in-your-mouth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cambriasmiles.com\/blog\/2022\/12\/12\/how-many-oral-bacteria-are-living-in-your-mouth\/","title":{"rendered":"How Many Oral Bacteria is in Your Mouth?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"WomanDid you know your mouth is home to over 650 species of oral bacteria? While the thought might make you cringe, some bacteria are essential for a healthy mouth. However, some species can wreak havoc on your smile, increasing your risk of tooth loss. Too much bacteria can lead to bad breath, cavities, infections, and other preventable dental issues. With your oral and general health closely entwined, it\u2019s important to keep bacteria levels under control. Here\u2019s what you need to know to keep your smile healthy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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How Many Bacteria Is In Your Mouth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every surface of your mouth is covered in bacteria, including your teeth, tongue, gums, and cheeks. Researchers already knew that hundreds of species live in a person\u2019s mouth, but they didn\u2019t know the total number of bacteria and their growth rate. Researchers developed a method of harvesting oral bacteria to determine the overall number in the average mouth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers took plaque from every tooth surface, which weighed about 10 mg. They then multiplied the weight by 20 because teeth only account for 1\/20 of oral surfaces. Multiplying 10 mg by 20 found the total biomass for the entire mouth. Researchers discovered that 1 mg of oral biomass has about 100 million microbes. A simple math formula allowed them to conclude there are approximately 20 million oral bacteria in a person\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, various factors contribute to the number of bacteria present at any given time. In controlled conditions, some species can double their numbers in just 20 minutes. In addition, some species compete with each other and many factors can affect the growth rate, like taking a sip of water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bacteria don\u2019t accumulate without any end. Swallowing significantly affects the number of bacteria in your mouth. On average, a person swallows 1 liter of saliva daily. 1 ml of saliva has about 100 million microbes, so you can swallow approximately 100 billion bacteria daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balancing Oral Bacteria in Your Mouth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, your saliva and swallowing aren\u2019t enough to keep bacteria controlled. Brushing and flossing are your first lines of defense against harmful pathogens. Brush your teeth for at least two minutes using a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste in the morning and at night. Floss between each tooth daily and use an antimicrobial mouthwash. It\u2019s important to drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your mouth moist and your body hydrated to combat bacteria growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The right care at home and regular dental appointments for a cleaning and checkup<\/a> will keep your mouth clean and healthy. You won\u2019t have to worry about bacteria compromising your pearly whites. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Dr. Frank S. Fratto<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Fratto<\/a> earned his dental degree from the University of Southern California and has regularly pursued continuing education in advanced services, including orthodontics, dental implants, and laser dentistry. With over 30 years of experience, he can help you reach and maintain your best smile. Contact our office today<\/a> to schedule your cleaning and checkup.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Did you know your mouth is home to over 650 species of oral bacteria? While the thought might make you cringe, some bacteria are essential for a healthy mouth. However, some species can wreak havoc on your smile, increasing your risk of tooth loss. Too much bacteria can lead to bad breath, cavities, infections, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cambriasmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cambriasmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cambriasmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cambriasmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cambriasmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=196"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.cambriasmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":198,"href":"https:\/\/www.cambriasmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196\/revisions\/198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cambriasmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cambriasmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cambriasmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}