Oral bacteria linked to many chronic diseases, study finds

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In Sweden, a group of scientists at the Karolinska Institutet have made an interesting discovery. They looked into the types of bacteria that are often found in serious mouth infections.

This study is quite important because it digs deeper into how the bacteria in our mouths might be linked to other health problems.

We’ve known for a while that keeping our mouths healthy is important for our overall health. Bad oral health has been connected to big health issues like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.

But until now, we didn’t have much information about the specific bacteria that cause problems in the mouth and face area.

The researchers took a close look at samples they collected from 2010 to 2020 at the Karolinska University Hospital. These samples came from patients who had really bad mouth infections. From this, they were able to make a list of the most common bacteria found in these cases.

They noticed that certain harmful bacteria are always found in these infections, and some have even become more common over the last ten years in Stockholm.

The most frequent types of bacteria they found were called Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. The most common groups within these types were Streptococcus, Prevotella, and Staphylococcus.

This discovery is really helpful for understanding the variety of harmful microbes that can live in our mouths when there’s an infection. It’s not just important for dental health; it also helps us understand how mouth infections can affect other diseases in our bodies.

For instance, if a certain bacteria causes problems in the mouth, there’s a good chance it could harm other parts of the body too.

In their past research, this team found that the kinds of bacteria in the mouth can even show how severe a pancreatic tumor is. That’s a pretty big deal because it shows just how much our oral health can tell us about our overall health.

The researchers hope that their findings will encourage dentists to work more closely with labs that study microbes.

This way, they can get a better understanding of the bacteria causing dental problems. This knowledge could lead to better ways to diagnose and treat mouth infections.

It’s not just scientists and doctors who should care about this. If you’re interested in keeping your gums healthy, you might want to look into other studies too.

Some research shows new reasons for tooth decay and gum diseases, and other studies suggest that common heartburn medications could be good for your teeth and gums.

There’s also research about mouthwashes that might harm your teeth, and studies showing that gum diseases could double the risk of high blood pressure.

This study, led by Professor Sällberg Chen and his team, was published in Microbiology Spectrum. It’s a reminder of how important our oral health is and how it’s connected to our overall well-being.

If you care about health, please read studies about berry that can prevent cancer, diabetes, and obesity, and the harm of vitamin D deficiency you need to know.

For more information about health, please see recent studies about the connection between potatoes and high blood pressure,  and results showing why turmeric is a health game-changer.

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