The Surprising Link Between Oral Hygiene and Gut Health, Doctors Say

The Surprising Link Between Oral Hygiene and Gut Health

Your mouth is more than just a gateway to your body—it's a complex ecosystem that plays a crucial role in your overall health. While many people focus on gut health, the foundation of a healthy digestive system actually begins in the mouth. Understanding this connection can help you make better choices for your well-being.

Key Takeaways

• Daily oral hygiene habits influence the balance of bacteria throughout your entire digestive system.
• Harmful oral bacteria can travel beyond the mouth, disrupt the gut microbiome, and contribute to wider inflammation in the body.
• Consistent brushing, flossing, hydration, fiber-rich foods, and routine checkups all support a healthier oral–gut connection.

If you've spent any time in the wellness world, you’ve likely seen the gut health craze influence everything from fermented kombucha to “de-bloat” supplements, all of which promise calm digestion and other purported benefits. But while most of this focuses on what you eat and drink, some experts say the real foundation of a healthy gut starts with your oral health.

Your mouth has its own busy microbiome, and the way you care for it matters. (Poor oral habits can throw off the digestion you’re working so hard to support.) We spoke with health experts to better understand the connection between oral hygiene and gut health. They also shared tips to help you build simple, impactful habits that benefit your entire system.

Meet the Experts

• Sandip Sachar, DDS, dentist and founder of Sachar Dental NYC
• Kara Wada, MD, functional medicine physician and founder of the Immune Confidence Institute in Columbus, Ohio
• Fatima Khan, DMD, dentist and co-founder of Riven Oral Care

How Oral Hygiene and Gut Health Are Connected

Your digestive health starts long before food reaches your stomach. “I tell my patients, your mouth and gut are interconnected,” says Sandip Sachar, DDS, dentist and founder of Sachar Dental NYC. “By taking care of your mouth every day and making smart dietary choices, you’re protecting your teeth and gums and also supporting your gut and overall health.” And while the process starts at the mouth, experts say the “conversation” goes in both directions.

“The trillions of bacteria that live in both places constantly interact,” says Kara Wada, MD, functional medicine physician and founder of the Immune Confidence Institute. “When the oral and gut microbiomes stay in balance, we see lower levels of inflammation. We also know that people living with chronic gut inflammation have increased rates of gum inflammation.”

To put it simply, whatever microbes you have in your mouth, whether they are detrimental to your health or not, tend to spread elsewhere. “The bacteria associated with periodontal disease can enter the bloodstream and spread to other parts of the body, leading to various health problems,” says Fatima Khan, DMD, dentist and co-founder of Riven Oral Care. “The acid in your stomach kills most bacteria. However, some strains may pass the stomach and go to the intestines and colon and cause inflammation and dysbiosis [or imbalance] of the gut.”

Going in the other direction, metabolic disturbances in the gut can cause low-level inflammation that Dr. Khan says can make someone more susceptible to gum disease. Once you have gum disease, it becomes a vicious, bidirectional cycle. When both the gut and mouth have a healthy microbiome, those health effects tend to reinforce one another in a positive way.

What Bad Oral Hygiene Does to Your Gut and Body

Oral health has a much bigger impact on your body than most people realize. Here are a few ways bad oral hygiene can influence your gut (and overall) health.

• Disrupts the Gut Microbiome
  When your mouth is unhealthy, your gut microbiome tends to suffer, too. “Just like the gut has millions of bacteria, the mouth has its own bacterial community," Dr. Sachar says. "Most of these microbes are harmless or even helpful. But some are harmful, especially if oral hygiene is poor.” Harmful oral bacteria (like Porphyromonas gingivalis associated with gum disease) can disrupt your gut microbiome balance (dysbiosis) and may worsen conditions like IBS or acid reflux, according to Dr. Sachar.

• Promotes Systemic Inflammation
  One of the biggest concerns with poor oral hygiene is how easily inflammation can spread beyond the mouth. “Poor oral hygiene, plaque buildup, and gum disease create a source of inflammation in the mouth, and that can cause the release of inflammatory compounds into the bloodstream, which may impair gut barrier function,” Dr. Sachar says. “The resulting systemic inflammation has also been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and digestive disorders.”

• Impacts Dietary Choices
  Chewing well is one of the most underrated steps in keeping your gut healthy. “Oral health means healthy teeth that can support proper chewing, to help break down food effectively and reduce digestive strain on the gut,” Dr. Sachar explains. “Pain, inflamed gums, decay, or missing teeth can cause poor chewing and also lead to poor food choices—as one may opt for more processed foods that are easier to chew.”

Ways to Improve Your Oral and Gut Health

Taking steps to improve your body's microbiome can have a big impact on your overall well-being. Here are several simple, doctor-approved ways to improve oral health and gut health in unison.

• Brush and Floss Consistently
  Keeping your mouth’s bacterial community in balance starts with consistent daily care. “Two minutes, twice daily brushing, plus daily flossing, helps prevent the oral bacteria that have been shown to drive inflammation in the body,” Dr. Wada says. “It is important to do both to physically disrupt the biofilm of bacteria that form along the gum line and between teeth.” Dr. Sachar recommends using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste for the best results.

• Stay Hydrated
  Staying hydrated is one of the simplest ways to support a healthy microbiome. “Adequate water and saliva flow help keep oral bacteria in check,” Dr. Wada says. “Dry mouth can contribute to significant changes in the oral microbiome.” She notes that dry mouth is a common side effect of medications like antihistamines, decongestants, muscle relaxers, and antidepressants. To help stay hydrated, check your body for signs you’re not drinking enough water.

• Eat Enough Fiber
  The foods you eat directly influence the microbial balance in the mouth and gut, so do your best to keep your meal plan balanced. “Eating a mostly whole-food, fiber-rich diet and limiting added sugar feeds the good bacteria in both your mouth and gut,” Dr. Wada says, who adds that you should also be prioritizing sleep and stress management to support your immune system and maintain healthy microbial balance throughout the body.

• Go to the Dentist and Doctor
  “Following up with your dental provider is key routinely, even if you’re not having pain,” Dr. Khan says. “You want to address oral health in the initial stages because it impacts your overall health.” She also says you should make sure your primary care doctor is checking A1C levels. “When it comes to diabetes and periodontal disease, there is a two-way street,” she adds. Either provider may recommend oral probiotics if they suspect a bacterial imbalance.