{"id":1621,"date":"2021-04-28T04:18:13","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T04:18:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enorcerna.com\/wiki\/otorhinolaryngology\/the-5-functions-of-the-microbiota-of-the-mouth\/"},"modified":"2021-04-28T04:18:13","modified_gmt":"2021-04-28T04:18:13","slug":"the-5-functions-of-the-microbiota-of-the-mouth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enorcerna.com\/wiki\/otorhinolaryngology\/the-5-functions-of-the-microbiota-of-the-mouth\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5 functions of the microbiota of the mouth"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In a single drop of saliva there are more than 100 million bacteria belonging to some 600 different species<\/strong>. Our mouth, because it is one of the regions of our body most exposed to the external environment, is a true zoo of microorganisms.<\/p>\n

And while it is true that we associate these microorganisms in the mouth with diseases such as cavities, gingivitis, periodontitis, etc., the truth is that the proportion of pathogens in the mouth is negligible compared to bacteria beneficial to health, which make up the microbiota of the mouth.<\/p>\n

This oral microbiome is essential for the mouth to be in good health and, in fact, the millions of bacteria that make it up protect us from the attack of pathogens that can harm us.<\/p>\n

In today's article We will see what the microbiome of the mouth consists of and what is the function of the bacteria that inhabit our oral cavity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

What is the oral microbiota?<\/h2>\n

The microbiota of the mouth is the set of microorganisms that inhabit the mouth naturally and that, far from causing us harm, establish a symbiotic relationship with us. Bacteria get a place to grow and nutrients, and in return we benefit from some of the functions they perform.<\/p>\n

Although it is difficult to calculate it exactly since it varies between people, it is estimated that our mouth is home to about 6 billion bacteria. That is, in our mouth there are almost the same bacteria as people around the world.<\/p>\n

Bacteria are grouped into populations according to their species and, therefore, their physiological needs. Based on this, they will form communities in the teeth, tongue, saliva, mucous membranes, gingival grooves ... Any region of the mouth is inhabited by millions of bacteria.<\/p>\n

And these bacteria, far from being a threat to our health, are essential for the mouth<\/strong>, perhaps the region of our body most sensitive and exposed to external threats, remains in a correct state of health.<\/p>\n

Where do the microorganisms in the mouth come from?<\/h2>\n

The mouth is the ideal home for bacteria. It is a humid, warm environment, with oxygen, with many nooks and crannies in which to settle and, in addition, it is always receiving nutrients, since it is the beginning of the digestive system. Therefore, colonizing it is the goal of an immense number of microorganisms.<\/p>\n

In other words, for all those bacteria capable of growing in the human body, the mouth represents the \"neighborhood\" most in demand. That is why oral diseases such as cavities or gingivitis are so common in the world, since the oral cavity is the perfect place for pathogens to grow.<\/p>\n

But, given the exposure to external threats and it is the ideal environment for germs to infect us, we suffer from diseases in the mouth much less frequently than we should. And this, thanks to what is? To the bacteria that make up the oral microbiome.<\/p>\n

Beneficial bacteria reach our mouths from the moment of birth<\/strong>It is through childbirth that, thanks to the contribution of microorganisms from the vaginal flora - or intestinal flora in the event of a cesarean section -, the baby receives the first colonization of the mouth by microorganisms.<\/p>\n

Subsequently, the person receives more populations of bacteria by simple contact with the outside environment, with food and respiration being the most typical ways of receiving microorganisms.<\/p>\n

No two people have the same oral microbiota, since the composition, abundance and diversity of species depend on many factors that make it as individual as the genes themselves.<\/p>\n

Diet, oral hygiene, age, sex, moisture in the mouth, composition of saliva, pH of the mouth, environment, climate, economic conditions, ingestion of certain medications, presence of certain diseases ...<\/p>\n

All these and many other factors contribute to our oral microbiota being the way it is. And as a whole, despite varying between people, the different species of beneficial bacteria that inhabit the mouth fulfill the same objective: to guarantee its health.<\/p>\n

And it's not because bacteria are \"good Samaritans,\" but because They are the first interested in making their home, a place so desired by other species, be kept in the best conditions<\/strong> possible. And they will do everything in their power to defend their home.<\/p>\n

What functions does the oral microbiome have?<\/h2>\n

As we have said, the mouth is, perhaps, the place in our body that collects the greatest amount of conditions to promote the growth of microorganisms. All corners of the oral cavity are colonized by microorganisms, which are usually beneficial.<\/p>\n

The problems come when the delicate balance in which these bacterial populations find themselves is broken, a situation that opens the door to suffering diseases and other more or less serious disorders in the mouth.<\/p>\n

Then we will see the main functions performed by the bacteria that make up the oral microbiome<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

1. Protection against oral pathogens<\/h3>\n

As we have said, the mouth is one of the main targets of pathogenic microorganisms since it is a medium in which the conditions for growth are very good and there are always nutrients available.<\/p>\n

The different species of bacteria that make up the oral microbiota live in harmony. Each one occupies a specific region and the nutrients are distributed, that is, they do not bother each other. The problem comes when a pathogenic \u201cvisitor\u201d reaches the mouth, as it will want to colonize any of its parts: the surface of the teeth, the gingival grooves, the tongue ...<\/p>\n

But when this germ reaches the mouth with the intention of settling down and beginning to cause us harm to obtain a benefit, it will find that someone already lives there. The site you want to colonize will already be inhabited by a community of bacteria from our microbiome that are not thinking of giving up their home.<\/p>\n

Namely, the oral microbiota protects itself from attack by pathogens<\/strong>Well, for them it is an invasion just like it is for us. And they will do everything in their power to combat the threat. Therefore, they begin to produce substances that neutralize the pathogen and, taking into account that it is usually outnumbered, the war is usually won by our microbiome.<\/p>\n

That is why it is so important that the oral microbiota is not unbalanced, since these bacteria are our main protection against oral pathogens and the reason why, despite being constantly \u201cbombarded\u201d by them, we suffer from oral diseases with a very low frequency due to what it should be.<\/p>\n

2. Regulation of blood pressure<\/h3>\n

A very important function of the oral microbiota is to contribute to the regulation of blood pressure<\/strong>. Some species of bacteria that inhabit our mouth synthesize nitric oxide, a substance that passes into the blood and acts as a vasodilator.<\/p>\n

Therefore, the microbiota of the mouth helps the person not suffer from hypertension. In fact, some studies have shown that overusing mouthwash unbalances the oral microbiota and people are more likely to have high blood pressure.<\/p>\n

3. Stimulation of the immune system<\/h3>\n

The immune system is perfectly designed to recognize, attack and neutralize any microorganism that settles in our body. Therefore, technically you should react to the presence of these bacterial species and try to eliminate them.<\/p>\n

But since this would lead to serious problems for oral health, the immune system has evolved to \"turn a blind eye.\" Namely, allows certain bacterial species to develop<\/strong>. But yes, the immune cells are always on the lookout, they stay alert to watch that they do not grow more than normal and \/ or that some species displace others.<\/p>\n

Therefore, the presence of these bacteria means that our immune system never \"falls asleep\" and that when the attack of a real pathogen arrives, it is ready to attack. That is to say, that the arrival of the germ catches it being \"hot\" and its efficiency is higher.<\/p>\n

4. Contribution to digestion<\/h3>\n

The mouth is the beginning of the digestive system<\/strong>. That is, digestion begins there. And thanks to the mechanical action of chewing itself and the products present in saliva, food is partially digested in it.<\/p>\n

But we forget the role of someone very important: the bacteria of the oral microbiome also synthesize compounds that help digest food. They do it so that they are more available to them, but indirectly they are also helping us, since we will absorb more nutrients.<\/p>\n

5. Regulation of systemic diseases<\/h3>\n

The bacteria that naturally inhabit our mouth are perfectly healthy in it, but that does not mean that they are harmless in other parts of the body. It is possible that, due to phenomena that are still under study, bacteria from the mouth move to other organs and tissues and, not being adapted to that environment, begin to cause problems since they behave as pathogens.<\/p>\n

A) Yes, they may cause endocarditis if they reach the heart, increase the risk of colon cancer, circulatory problems<\/strong>\u2026 They can even cause us to suffer from hypertension, high cholesterol levels, diabetes and, although it is being studied, it is possible that they are closely related to mental health.<\/p>\n

Therefore, bacteria in the mouth are implicated in many systemic diseases. Ensuring that there are no imbalances in their populations is of vital importance to reduce the risk of these types of disorders causing us.<\/p>\n

Bibliographic references<\/h4>\n
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  • Cruz Quintana, SM, Sjostrom, PD, Arias Socarr\u00e1s, D. et al (2017) \u201cMicrobiota of the ecosystems of the oral cavity\u201d. Cuban Journal of Stomatology.<\/li>\n
  • Deo, PN, Deshmukh, R. (2019) \u201cOral microbiome: Unveiling the fundamentals\u201d. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.<\/li>\n
  • Kilian, M., Chapple, ILC, Hanning, M. (2016) \u201cThe oral microbiome - An update for oral healthcare professionals\u201d. British Dental Journal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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