Most people will say, “teeth”, however the mouth consists of much more than teeth, and we hope that you are saying “teeth” because you have a healthy dentition. Although the teeth are very important part of dentistry, we also pay attention to the bacteria in the mouth because our office focuses on oral systemic health. In our office, we will take a small sample of plaque from below the gums and look at it under the microscope. We will spend time looking at the slide with you and learning more about the bacteria in your mouth.

Below is an example of two slides, one has some bacterial concerns and the other is a healthy mouth.

So, what are we looking for exactly??? White blood cells, spirochetes, trichomonad, gliding rods, and amoeba.

When a patient’s slide presents with harmful bacteria, we like to learn more about the cause of the bacteria as well as the implications that it might have on the patient’s overall health. Bacteria in the mouth can cause inflammation that will infect the gum tissues and spread throughout the body. We are primarily concerned about this because this inflammation can increase the risk of the formation of unwanted blood clots that could break loose and migrate toward the brain or heart and cause a stroke or heart attack.

The more commonly known consequence of oral bacteria and gum disease is tooth loss. A bacterial infection can cause damage to the teeth and supporting gums and bone. Over time the bacteria will become destructive and the ligaments attaching the teeth to the jaw bones will loosen or even dissolve.

Once we are aware of bacterial infections, we teach our patients how to remove the harmful bacteria with brushing, flossing, and other plaque removal techniques. Our providers may also suggest bacterial testing to learn more about the harmful bacteria in your mouth and provide treatment specifically for you!

We work with two labs, OraVtal and OralDNA, to learn more about the bacteria in your mouth.