The inside of your mouth is the perfect place for bacteria to thrive: It’s dark, it’s warm, it’s wet and the foods and drinks you consume provide nutrients for them to eat.
Exactly how oral bacteria affect your overall health is still poorly understood, Dr Bray said, since the existing research is limited and no studies have established cause-and-effect. This can happen during a dental cleaning or flossing, or if you have a cut or wound inside your mouth, he said. This phenomenon has been observed mainly in patients who are hospitalised or older adults in nursing homes, and is a concern for those who can’t floss or brush their teeth on their own, said Dr Martinna Bertolini, an assistant professor of dental medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine.
Some research also suggests that better oral hygiene practices are linked with lower rates of heart disease. Research also suggests that bacteria from your mouth may activate immune cells that circulate in the blood, causing inflammation in the womb that could distress the placenta and foetal tissues.