Why mouthwash isn't really fixing your bad breath.

INSIGHT

Your oral flora is just as relevant as your gut microbiome.

If the eyes are the window to your soul, the mouth is the window to your gut. Oddly enough with the fascination of our gut microbiome as of late (over-cautious dietary choices and overzealous selection of fermented-anything), we have an under-developed intrigue with our oral microbiome. From frothing whitening toothpastes to anti-bacterial mouthwashes, it almost feels like the mouth is more of an extension of our faces than our guts; concerned more with the desire for pearly whites and minty kissers than those little buggers keeping our mouth pH in balance for pre-digestive function.

The mouth is ripe with information about our health and one of the most reliable diagnostics tools of any Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurvedic or Naturopathic doctor. Observing texture, colour, shape, size, surface and smell, holistic doctors can determine various patterned imbalances that can be treated with functional herbs, oils and foods. If you’ve never oil pulled, a practice which involves slowly swishing coconut oil slowly through the mouth (I prefer mine with some cinnamon oil) to attract “ama” (toxins in Ayurveda) from the body through the mouth. No scientific evidence can truly lay claim to this practice but the effect of coating the mouth with a natural anti-septic/anti-bacterial/anti-fungal/anti-inflammatory (good stuff!!) agent that is pH neutral and doesn’t harm the good bacteria in one’s mouth, still makes it a better longterm alternative to the napalm that is your sweetened, 99.9% bacterial killing, acidic mouthwash. Not to mention how this daily habit begins to condition our tastebuds to lose their sensitivity over-time (it’s like numbing your buds to the joy of refined taste!!).

Oral care conglomerates and many traditional dentists would also lay claim to the absolute necessity of fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash, another non-proven necessity if you make good food choices and get the adequate amount of trace minerals, vitamins and phytonutrients needed to keep our mouth environment healthy and teeth able to remineralize on their own. Indigenous societies reliant on old ways (a.k.a. no toothbrushes) are a testament to our oral care being a symbol of our whole body health. When you step back, it’s then easier to realize that it’s the sugar, coffee and fast food industry that makes something like toothpaste and mouthwash necessary. There are alternatives though and if anything, having more fascination (and perhaps commercial credence) to our oral care will unveil some exciting innovations in an industry that is going from more hygienic to holistic.

INSPIRATION

Ask The Dentist

Mark Burhenne, DDS, knows that the mouth is the gateway to health in the rest of the body. So, he left the cushy scene of traditional dentistry and started an online business that educates people on the connection between oral and overall health, on top of being an expert and author of the science of sleep, being a member of something called the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. Sleep medicine dentistry is a whole thing.

He has a solid mission:

To empower our readers with evidence-based, easy-to-understand dental health advice.

We’re committed to giving you evidence-based recommendations whenever possible.

Our dentists and other experts sift through the complex science on dental and oral health. Then, we make it easy to understand.

Balanced, actionable dental information can help you improve your oral and overall health. After all, health begins in the mouth.

INNOVATION

“Silky, Spicy Smiles”

Natural anti-fungal, anti-bacterial "mouth pulls" made of cold-pressed coconut & cinnamon oils.

• Oral care is not subjected to just abrasive brushing; in fact, the health of our gums and teeth are mostly due to our diets and mouth environments. "Mouth pulls" are Ayurvedic remedies which cleanse the mouth using an oil pulling method of drawing out unwanted bacteria and fungus over-growth.

• Smooth, silky coconut oil allows the mouth pull/wash to be pleasant as you swish around the oil and massage gums; whilst cinnamon oil, a natural freshener, also acts as an anti-fungal agent with a tasty kick.

• Use for 5 minutes each morning when you get up and before bed to compliment your tooth brushing routine. Stop using chemical mouth washes that harm the pH balance of the mouth and only exacerbate bacterial overgrowth from the presence of sugars.