In Sweden, scientists at the Karolinska Institutet have found something interesting about the bacteria that cause serious infections in the mouth.
Their study looked closely at which bacteria were most common in these infections, and why that matters for our overall health.
We already know that taking care of our teeth and gums is important. Poor oral health has been linked to big health problems like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s disease. But until now, scientists didn’t have a clear picture of which exact bacteria were causing the worst infections in the mouth and face area.
The research team studied samples from patients at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm. These samples were collected over ten years, from 2010 to 2020, from people who had serious mouth infections. From these samples, they created a list of the most common bacteria found in the infections.
They discovered that certain harmful bacteria kept showing up again and again. Even more interesting, some of these bacteria have become more common in the past ten years in Stockholm.
The most frequent types of bacteria they found belonged to four main groups: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Within those groups, the most common bacteria were Streptococcus, Prevotella, and Staphylococcus.
This is important because it helps doctors and scientists understand what kinds of bacteria are causing harm in the mouth. And it’s not just about dental problems. If certain bacteria are causing infections in the mouth, they might also be affecting other parts of the body.
In fact, the same research team has found before that the kinds of bacteria in your mouth can even tell how serious a pancreatic tumor is. That shows how deeply connected our oral health is to the rest of our health.
The team hopes that dentists will begin to work more closely with labs that study bacteria. If dentists know more about the exact bacteria causing infections, they can do a better job of treating patients and preventing serious problems.
And it’s not just dentists and doctors who should pay attention. Anyone who wants to take care of their health should care about their gums and teeth. Other studies have found new reasons behind tooth decay and gum disease, and even suggested that common medications for heartburn might be helpful for oral health.
There’s also research that warns against some types of mouthwash that could harm your teeth, and studies showing that gum disease may double your risk of high blood pressure.
This study was led by Professor Sällberg Chen and his team, and it was published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum. It’s a strong reminder that keeping your mouth healthy is an important part of staying healthy overall.
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