The Hidden Link Between Your Mouth and Your Entire Body
Most people think brushing and flossing are enough to keep their mouths healthy. But what if I told you that your mouth isn’t just about your teeth and gums it’s controlling your gut, your immune system, your metabolism, and even your brain?
If you’re struggling with chronic fatigue, digestive issues, joint pain, autoimmune disease, or bad breath, the root cause may start in your mouth.
Today, we’re diving deep into the powerful mouth-body connection, the foods that heal and harm, and the small daily shifts that can prevent disease before it starts.
The Problem: Your Mouth Is the Gateway to Your Health
90% of the bacteria in your body come from your mouth.
These microbes don’t just stay there they travel into your gut, bloodstream, and brain.
🛑 What happens when your mouth is full of bad bacteria?
Leaky gut & digestive issues – Oral bacteria travel to the gut, causing bloating, IBS, and autoimmune diseases.
Diabetes & insulin resistance – Chronic inflammation in the gums makes it harder for your body to regulate blood sugar.
Joint pain & arthritis – Bacteria in the mouth trigger inflammation throughout the body.
Cavities, gum disease & bad breath – Pathogenic bacteria feed off sugar and acidic foods, destroying oral tissues.
Brain fog, anxiety & Alzheimer’s disease – Bacteria from the mouth have been found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
The Truth: The foods you eat either fuel disease or fight it.
The Worst Bacteria Hiding in Your Mouth
Certain anaerobic (oxygen-hating) bacteria thrive in low-oxygen areas like gum pockets, tongue crypts, and plaque buildup.
The Worst Offenders: The Bacteria Destroying Your Health
Porphyromonas gingivalis → Causes gum disease, linked to Alzheimer’s & heart disease
Treponema denticola → Destroys gum tissue, contributes to leaky gut
Tannerella forsythia → Linked to aggressive periodontitis
Fusobacterium nucleatum → Travels from the mouth to the gut, linked to colon cancer
Prevotella species → Worsens diabetes, autoimmune disease, inflammation
The Danger: These bacteria hide in deep gum pockets, on the tongue, and within plaque biofilms. Over time, they spread through saliva, swallowing, and the bloodstream, triggering widespread inflammation.
Food as Medicine:
What to Eat and What to Avoid for a Healthy Mouth & Body
Foods That Heal & Restore the Body
Foods That Kill Parasites & Bad Bacteria
🧄 Garlic & Onions → Natural antimicrobial, fights anaerobic bacteria.
🥥 Coconut Oil (Oil Pulling) → Disrupts bacterial biofilms in the mouth.
🌿 Ginger & Turmeric → Anti-inflammatory, prevents gum disease.
🥒 Fermented Foods (Kimchi, Sauerkraut, Kefir) → Replenish gut microbiome.
Foods That Reverse Inflammation & Joint Pain
🐟 Wild-Caught Salmon & Sardines → Omega-3s reduce systemic inflammation.
🍵 Bone Broth → Rebuilds gut lining and joint cartilage.
🥬 Leafy Greens & Berries → Antioxidants reduce free radical damage.
Foods That Heal Cavities & Prevent Gum Disease
🥑 Alkaline Foods (Cucumbers, Avocados, Celery) → Balance oral pH.
🥚 Vitamin K2-Rich Foods (Egg Yolks, Grass-Fed Butter) → Helps remineralize teeth.
🍒 Cranberries → Prevent bacteria from sticking to teeth.
Foods That Reverse Diabetes & Insulin Resistance
🍂 Cinnamon → Helps regulate blood sugar.
🥜 Nuts & Seeds → Provide healthy fats that stabilize insulin response.
🍇 Blueberries → Reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.
What to Avoid: The Worst Foods for Your Mouth & Body
🚫 Refined Sugar & Processed Carbs → Feed oral bacteria, causing plaque buildup, cavities, and gut imbalance.
🚫 Acidic Beverages (Soda, Coffee, Alcohol) → Erodes enamel and disrupts gut pH.
🚫 Artificial Sweeteners (Aspartame, Sucralose) → Kills good gut bacteria, increasing cravings and inflammation.
🚫 Vegetable Oils (Canola, Soy, Corn Oil) → Highly inflammatory, disrupts hormone balance.
🚫 Gluten & Processed Grains → Linked to leaky gut, bloating, and autoimmune flare-ups.
Simple Daily Habits to Heal Your Mouth & Transform Your Health
Practice Nasal Breathing → Mouth breathing dries out saliva, allowing bad bacteria to thrive. Train yourself (and your kids) to breathe through the nose.
Oil Pulling (5-10 Minutes Daily) → Coconut oil disrupts bacterial biofilms and detoxifies the mouth.
Brush with Baking Soda or Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste → Strengthens enamel without harmful fluoride.
Use a Tongue Scraper → Removes bacteria and toxins that build up overnight.
Drink Filtered, Alkaline Water → Keeps the mouth hydrated and balanced.
Chew Your Food Properly → Digestion starts in the mouth! Chewing well improves gut health and nutrient absorption.
Eat a Nutrient-Dense, Anti-Inflammatory Diet → Your teeth, gums, gut, and brain will thank you.
The Bottom Line: Your Mouth is the Key to Your Health
Your oral health isn’t just about preventing cavities, it’s about preventing chronic disease, inflammation, and systemic health issues.
What you eat, how you breathe, and your daily oral habits determine whether your body is thriving or breaking down.
The good news? You have the power to take control. Small, consistent changes will lead to massive transformations in how you feel, think, and function.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Want to learn how to optimize your family’s health from the inside out?
Join my Healthy HabitsCourse to get guidance on transforming your oral and overall health.
Get my book OW.N.E.R. The Mind Mouth. Body Connection https://shereewertz.com/ownerbook
💬 Let’s talk! Have questions? Comment below or reach out I’d love to help.
Until next time, OWN your health because no one else will do it for you. You are your best investment.
Take care of you. 💜
