There Are Tiny Creatures Living in Your Mouth

Millions of tiny, nearly invisible creatures live in your mouth. Scientists refer to these creatures as microorganisms. They crawl around your tongue, live on your teeth, and look for food at the top of your mouth. Right now, there are over 200 distinct species (types) of microorganisms in your mouth! These tiny critters come in nearly infinite shapes and sizes, including some that are shaped like spiral noodles, basketballs, hot dogs, and even small robots (Figure 1). Some have tails called flagella that they use to move around, while others extrude glue-like slime to make sure they and their friends can stick to surfaces. This world is incredibly tiny—each microorganism is over 100 times smaller than one of your cells and is even tinier than the end of a pin. This world, much like the human town or city where you live, is a community; each microorganism has a specific job to do. These communities are referred to by scientists as microbiomes—collections of different types of microorganisms, including bacteria, primitive bacteria called archaea, viruses, fungi, yeasts, and parasites, that all cooperate and live together in a certain place.

How Did These Microorganisms Get in Your Mouth?

Your oral (mouth) microbiome is incredibly complex and changes throughout your life. If we continue to imagine microbiomes as human cities, distinct neighborhoods exist on your tongue, teeth, cheeks, gums, and even in your saliva. These neighborhoods are built slowly over time, as different microorganisms arrive in your mouth after birth by catching rides on your food, hopping in from your mom’s mouth, or slipping in on dust from the air. Early on, only specific types of microorganisms—let is call them the pioneers—are able to survive. However, once the pioneers settle in, they modify the environments of their neighborhoods in specific ways that allow other microorganisms to join them. Just as human pioneers once modified the wilderness so that towns could be built, a species of bacteria called Streptococcus constructs nice, sticky surfaces in the mouth that then allow other bacteria, such as Actinomyces, to adhere and take up residence [1].

What Do These Microorganisms Do?

Over time, different neighborhoods are filled with all kinds of microorganisms that perform diverse jobs that ensure the overall community functions properly [2]. Some microorganisms function as farmers, beginning the process of digestion and helping you get the maximum energy from your food (for e.g., Lactobacillus). Others are guardsmen, maintaining the barriers between you and your environment and keeping harmful chemicals, toxins, or even invading microorganisms from taking root (Streptococcus). Some even act as police to help keep dangerous microorganisms from causing infections and disease [3]. Researchers learn what these microorganisms are doing everyday by looking at what they produce (proteins) or the instructions they have to do certain tasks (DNA).

When Microorganisms Go Rogue...

Many of our microorganism friends keep us healthy, but, when we eat a lot of sugar, forget to brush our teeth, or skip a visit to the dentist, some oral microorganisms can go rogue. For example, some bacteria love sweets, and, when given enough sugar, they begin to grow very quickly. In the process, they produce an acid that destroys a tooth’s enamel (the hard, protective outer white surface of a tooth). This damage causes blackened holes, or cavities, in the teeth (Figure 2). Cavities can expose the nerves inside a tooth, causing pain. Without treatment, a cavity can allow other rogue bacteria to enter the tooth, and the tooth could become infected and may eventually even have to be removed.

Rogue bacteria can also cause other health problems in the mouth, such as gingivitis and periodontitis (Figure 2). Gingivitis occurs when rogue bacteria cause inflammation or bleeding of the gums. Gingivitis generally develops when bacteria grow in larger groups and form plaque between and around the teeth. Plaque can alter the immune system in the body to mistakenly attack the gums and cause accidental destruction of gum tissue. When left untreated, gingivitis can worsen and develop into periodontitis. Periodontitis is a severe gum infection that may cause tooth loss and other illnesses. Teenagers are at a high risk for developing periodontitis, as puberty increases blood circulation to the gums and sensitivity to bacterial infections.

Along with cavities and periodontitis, oral bacteria can also contribute to other diseases outside of the mouth. Rogue oral bacteria can escape the mouth and travel to the gut, lungs, heart, and brain, or they can produce toxins and other nasty compounds that cause problems outside of the mouth. When oral microorganisms are in the wrong place, they can contribute to diseases such as colon cancer, heart and lung disease, arthritis, or even Alzheimer’s disease. For instance, the rogue bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease by producing toxins that travel from the mouth to the brain. All of these diseases illustrate that it is critical for everyone to take care of their mouths and reduce the number of rogue oral bacteria.

Does Anyone Else Share Your Oral Microbiome?

If you eat the same foods as your friend, will both of you have the same oral microorganisms? Do you have the same microorganisms as your parents or siblings? The answer is complicated. Scientists have learned that a person’s diet, ancestry, gender, place of birth, and oral hygiene play a role creating the oral microbiome [4] and that you share microbes with people in your family. For instance, the Batwa—a group of people who live in Uganda in Africa and hunt and gather their food—have more diverse oral microbiomes than other people who grow or buy their own food. We also know that the amount of fat, sugar, and coffee you consume can change the bacteria in your mouth. Researchers have also identified other factors, such as genetics and smoking, that encourage certain types of bacteria to live in the mouth. Although you have a completely unique oral microbiome, you share more microorganisms with people who live their lives the same way that you do. More research is needed to understand how environment, lifestyle, and ancestry work together to shape the oral microbiome.

Brush Your Teeth!

Current research suggests that regular brushing helps prevent rogue microorganisms from growing too much, invading other parts of your body, and causing harm. Brushing your teeth keeps the numbers of rogue bacteria low and promotes the general health of the body. While humans who lived thousands of years ago are thought to have had microbiomes with fewer rogue bacteria [5], major lifestyle changes in recent years have shifted the types of microorganisms living in our mouths, probably for the worse. Specifically, eating a lot of sugars and processed foods, and the use of antibiotics, may explain why people living today have higher numbers of rogue bacteria. Because these lifestyle choices are hard to overcome, you must brush your teeth with toothpaste to keep these rogue bacteria under control. Toothpaste also contains a mineral called fluoride, which strengthens the enamel on your teeth, creating additional armor to help protect teeth from rogue bacteria. Researchers hope that, 1 day, we will figure out how to encourage a healthier microbiome in our mouths, so that cavities will be a thing of the past!

Glossary

Microorganism: ↑ A living organism that is too small to see without a microscope. Microorganisms include bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, yeasts, and parasites.

Microbiome: ↑ All the microorganisms living in a particular area, along with the proteins or chemicals that make that area unique.

Enamel: ↑ Enamel is the shiny, hard outer surface of teeth that helps to protect them against decay.

Cavity: ↑ A damaged area in the enamel that is irreversible and can lead to more serious infections. Cavities are also called tooth decay or caries.

Gingivitis: ↑ The early stage of gum disease, which is reversible with better oral care. The gums are sometimes slightly red and tender.

Periodontitis: ↑ A common, severe gum infection, also called gum disease, that damages gums and can cause tooth loss if untreated. Periodontitis is linked to stroke, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

Plaque: ↑ Dental plaque is a layer of microorganisms that build up on your teeth. Over time, it gives teeth a yellow or brown look.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.