Choosing what to eat becomes a daily choice filled with many options. But, as we all know very well, sometimes the things that taste super good are not always the best for our health, especially when consumed frequently. Previous research has suggested that the foods we consume play a role in the types of bacteria we have orally. In addition, these bacteria, some of which can be beneficial and others harmful, can influence our overall health.
Several researchers have suggested a link between oral bacteria and oral issues like tooth decay and gum disease. New research conducted at the University at Buffalo suggests that eating specific types of food can change the composition of oral bacteria present when analyzing 1,204 postmenopausal women from the Women’s Health Initiative data. The study was published in the Scientific Reports journal. Their study revealed that higher consumption of sugary and glycemic foods, such as doughnuts, baked goods, sodas, breads, and non-fat yogurts, may contribute to poor oral health and systemic health issues in older women due to the potential impact of oral bacteria.
They are the first to report on sugar/carbohydrate intake and the bacteria from dental plaque samples found underneath the gums (subgingivally) exclusively in postmenopausal women. Lead author Dr. Amy Millen, associate professor of epidemiology and environmental health at University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions, stated, “This is important because the oral bacteria involved in periodontal disease are primarily residing in the subgingival plaque…Looking at measures of salivary bacteria might not tell us how oral bacteria relate to periodontal disease because we are not looking in the right environment within the mouth.” They found a link between total sugar intake, glycemic load, sucrose and the common bacterial culprit of tooth decay, Streptococcus mutans. Further research is necessary as the connection between carbohydrates and oral bacteria is not fully known. Researchers also found the bacteria Leptotrichia spp., which has in previous studies been linked with gingivitis, to also be associated with sugar consumption.
Dr. Millen noted, “As more studies are conducted looking at the oral microbiome using similar sequencing techniques and progression or development of periodontal disease over time, we might begin to make better inferences about how diet relates to the oral microbiome and periodontal disease.”
References:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220405102825.htm