Bet you didn't know there's a link between the mouth and digestive problems
For many of us, oral health is only a concern when tooth or gum pain occurs.
Otherwise, regular dental checks are easily dismissed.
However, this neglect can lead to a cascade of issues that include worsening cavities and gum disease as well as heightened risk for digestive problems.
This might come as a surprise as the mouth and the gut appear to be completely separate.
Professor Seow Liang Lin, dean of IMU University's School of Dentistry explained, 'Bacteria from gum disease can cross the blood barrier and survive gastric juices, allowing it to populate the gut and affect the balance of good gut bacteria that help with digestion.
'It is medically well-established that patients with gum disease are more likely to have inflammatory conditions of the gut such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Crohn's disease.'
She added: 'The oral cavity and the gut harbour some of the most dense and diverse microbial communities; they share a common factor, which is the presence of good and bad bacteria that usually exist in balance.
'However, this balance can be disrupted by many factors, such as the presence of oral bacteria in the gut which releases toxins that trigger inflammation, while suppressing the good bacteria that helps to fight inflammation.'
Similarly, digestive health issues can also have an impact on oral health.
For example, the backflow of acidic stomach juices in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) can erode teeth enamel, leading to thinning of tooth structure, irreversible tooth damage and sensitivity.
Moreover, tooth loss has been found to be associated with a lower relative abundance of Faecalibacterium, which secretes short-chain fatty acids believed to have systemic anti-inflammatory effect.
'The relationship between oral health and gut health is more direct than most people realise, and oral health is more important than you think, because it can have an impact on your overall health and well-being.
'The oral cavity acts as a gateway for microbial colonisation, shaping the composition of subsequent microbial communities along the respiratory and digestive systems.
'Dental problems such as decay and gum diseases that have gone unnoticed may eventually lead to tooth loss and result in difficulty in chewing.
'This, in turn, may affect a person's food choices, such as avoiding meats or vegetables in favour of processed foods that are easier to bite into, and lead to malnutrition or constipation,' said Prof Seow.
Another factor affecting oral health is smoking, which disrupts gum health in the oral cavity, triggers inflammatory responses in the mouth and reduces blood supply to the gums, leading to gum inflammation.
Oral health redefined
With ongoing research, more connections between oral health and other diseases may be established, but the existing data on gut health is already compelling and a good reminder to make oral health an important aspect of health.
This means getting regular check-ups to detect problems early, when they can still be remedied e.g. tooth decay can cause sensitivity or pain, and thus prompt a visit to the dentist.
However, gum disease can often progress without any pain and symptoms like bleeding are often ignored.
Over time, the underlying bone structure will be compromised and the tooth become loose.
By then, there is nothing that can be done to reverse it, pointed out Prof Seow.
'The usual advice is to see your dentist at least once a year but it is more relevant to look at your risk factors.
'If you have been practicing good oral hygiene and have no known issues, annual check-ups might be sufficient.
'However, the presence of tooth decay or gum disease, or the use of braces or other prosthesis that easily retain plaque, may require more regular attention, perhaps twice a year or even quarterly, depending on your dentist's recommendation,' she said.
Prof Seow advocates making your dentist your trusted ally.
'Having a regular dentist who is familiar with your history can encourage more open discussion and education on oral care solutions that are relevant and effective for you,' she concludes.
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The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Bet you didn't know there's a link between the mouth and digestive problems
For many of us, oral health is only a concern when tooth or gum pain occurs. Otherwise, regular dental checks are easily dismissed. However, this neglect can lead to a cascade of issues that include worsening cavities and gum disease as well as heightened risk for digestive problems. This might come as a surprise as the mouth and the gut appear to be completely separate. Professor Seow Liang Lin, dean of IMU University's School of Dentistry explained, 'Bacteria from gum disease can cross the blood barrier and survive gastric juices, allowing it to populate the gut and affect the balance of good gut bacteria that help with digestion. 'It is medically well-established that patients with gum disease are more likely to have inflammatory conditions of the gut such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Crohn's disease.' She added: 'The oral cavity and the gut harbour some of the most dense and diverse microbial communities; they share a common factor, which is the presence of good and bad bacteria that usually exist in balance. 'However, this balance can be disrupted by many factors, such as the presence of oral bacteria in the gut which releases toxins that trigger inflammation, while suppressing the good bacteria that helps to fight inflammation.' Similarly, digestive health issues can also have an impact on oral health. For example, the backflow of acidic stomach juices in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) can erode teeth enamel, leading to thinning of tooth structure, irreversible tooth damage and sensitivity. Moreover, tooth loss has been found to be associated with a lower relative abundance of Faecalibacterium, which secretes short-chain fatty acids believed to have systemic anti-inflammatory effect. 'The relationship between oral health and gut health is more direct than most people realise, and oral health is more important than you think, because it can have an impact on your overall health and well-being. 'The oral cavity acts as a gateway for microbial colonisation, shaping the composition of subsequent microbial communities along the respiratory and digestive systems. 'Dental problems such as decay and gum diseases that have gone unnoticed may eventually lead to tooth loss and result in difficulty in chewing. 'This, in turn, may affect a person's food choices, such as avoiding meats or vegetables in favour of processed foods that are easier to bite into, and lead to malnutrition or constipation,' said Prof Seow. Another factor affecting oral health is smoking, which disrupts gum health in the oral cavity, triggers inflammatory responses in the mouth and reduces blood supply to the gums, leading to gum inflammation. Oral health redefined With ongoing research, more connections between oral health and other diseases may be established, but the existing data on gut health is already compelling and a good reminder to make oral health an important aspect of health. This means getting regular check-ups to detect problems early, when they can still be remedied e.g. tooth decay can cause sensitivity or pain, and thus prompt a visit to the dentist. However, gum disease can often progress without any pain and symptoms like bleeding are often ignored. Over time, the underlying bone structure will be compromised and the tooth become loose. By then, there is nothing that can be done to reverse it, pointed out Prof Seow. 'The usual advice is to see your dentist at least once a year but it is more relevant to look at your risk factors. 'If you have been practicing good oral hygiene and have no known issues, annual check-ups might be sufficient. 'However, the presence of tooth decay or gum disease, or the use of braces or other prosthesis that easily retain plaque, may require more regular attention, perhaps twice a year or even quarterly, depending on your dentist's recommendation,' she said. Prof Seow advocates making your dentist your trusted ally. 'Having a regular dentist who is familiar with your history can encourage more open discussion and education on oral care solutions that are relevant and effective for you,' she concludes.
Sinar Daily
6 days ago
- Sinar Daily
The overlooked connection between your mouth and your gut
Poor oral hygiene could be silently disrupting your digestion, triggering inflammation, and compromising your overall health. 06 Jun 2025 02:27pm Having a regular dentist who is familiar with your history can encourage more open discussion and education on oral care solutions that are relevant and effective for you, said Prof Seow Liang Lin. Photo: IMU University FOR many Malaysians, oral health is only a concern when tooth or gum pain occurs, and regular dental checks are easily this neglect can lead to a cascade of issues that include a worsening of cavities and gum disease as well as heightened risk for digestive might come as a surprise – after all, the mouth and the gut appear to be completely Prof Seow Liang Lin, Dean of the School of Dentistry at IMU University said: 'Bacteria from gum disease can cross the blood barrier and survive gastric juices, allowing it to populate the gut and affect the balance of good gut bacteria that help with digestion."It is medically well-established that patients with gum disease are more likely to have inflammatory conditions of the gut such as inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn's disease.' Prof Seow Liang Lin, Dean of the School of Dentistry at IMU University. Photo: IMU University Oral and Gut Health Intertwined Seow also said that the oral cavity and the gut harbour some of the most dense and diverse microbial communities; they share a common factor, which is the presence of good and bad bacteria that usually exist in balance. "However, this balance can be disrupted by many factors, such as the presence of oral bacteria in the gut which releases toxins that trigger inflammation, while suppressing the good bacteria that helps to fight inflammation,' said Seow. Similarly, digestive health issues can also have an impact on oral health. For example, the backflow of acidic stomach juices in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) can erode teeth enamel, leading to thinning of tooth structure, irreversible tooth damage and tooth loss has been found to be associated with a lower relative abundance of Faecalibacterium, which secretes short-chain fatty acids believed to have systemic anti-inflammatory effect.'The relationship between oral health and gut health is more direct than most people realise, and oral health is more important than you think, because it can have an impact on your overall health and wellbeing."The oral cavity acts as a gateway for microbial colonization, shaping the composition of subsequent microbial communities along the respiratory and digestive systems.'Dental problems such as decay and gum diseases that have gone unnoticed may eventually lead to tooth loss and result in difficulty in chewing. This, in turn, may affect a person's food choices, such as avoiding meats or vegetables in favour of processed foods that are easier to bite into, and lead to malnutrition or constipation," she common factor affecting oral health is smoking, which disrupts gum health in the oral cavity, triggers inflammatory responses in the mouth and reduces blood supply to the gums, leading to gum inflammation. The existing data on gut health is already compelling and a good reminder to make oral health equally important as other aspects of health. Photo: Canva Oral Health Redefined With ongoing research, more connections between oral health and other diseases may be established, but the existing data on gut health is already compelling and a good reminder to make oral health equally important as other aspects of means getting regular check-ups to detect problems early, when they can still be instance, tooth decay can cause sensitivity or pain, and thus prompt a visit to the gum disease can often progress without any pain and symptoms like bleeding are often ignored; over time, the underlying bone structure will be compromised and the tooth become loose; by then, there is nothing that can be done to reverse it.'The usual advice is to see your dentist at least once a year but it is more relevant to look at your risk factors. If you have been practicing good oral hygiene and have no known issues, annual check-ups might be sufficient."However, the presence of tooth decay or gum disease, or the use of braces or other prosthesis that easily retain plaque, may require more regular attention, perhaps twice a year or even quarterly, depending on your dentist's recommendation,' said a final word of advice, Seow advocates making your dentist your trusted ally.'Having a regular dentist who is familiar with your history can encourage more open discussion and education on oral care solutions that are relevant and effective for you," she said.
The Star
26-05-2025
- The Star
Hong Kong warned of surge in inflammatory bowel disease rates
The number of Hongkongers suffering from incurable chronic gut conditions could surge by 150 per cent over a 20-year period due to unhealthy diets, high in sugar and fat, according to a global study. Scientists from the study that was co-led by researchers from Hong Kong and Canada raised the alarm after a projection model estimated that the prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in the city would rise from 40 cases per 100,000 people in 2014 to 100 in 2034. 'The 150 per cent increase in the total number in terms of prevalence – this is quite scary,' said Professor Ng Siew Chien, associate dean of the Chinese University of Hong Kong's medical school and an expert in gastroenterology who co-led the study. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. 'We call this probably an explosion.' Researchers found that the rates were related to economic development and that less developed places, such as Malaysia and mainland China, had lower rates than Hong Kong, although they were also trending upwards. IBD refers to a group of conditions that cause swelling and inflammation of tissue in the digestive tract, with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis being the two most common types. Common symptoms of such conditions include diarrhoea, abdominal pains and cramps, and blood in the stool. IBD sufferers are also more likely to develop serious illnesses such as colon cancer. The researchers' projection model is based on real-world data collected from more than 500 studies in 82 regions that took place between 1920 and 2024. It also anticipated a rise in the local incidence rate for IBD, which involves the number of new cases per 100,000 people. While the rate in Hong Kong was 0.1 in 1985, it rose to about three in 2013 and is estimated to have exceeded four in 2023. The figures placed the city in the second part of a four-stage model outlined in the study, meaning it was experiencing a phase of 'acceleration in incidence' in IBD cases. Other jurisdictions that were seeing similar trends to Hong Kong included many relatively newly industrialised nations in Asia and Latin America, such as mainland China, Japan and South Korea. In the mainland, the rate of new cases rose from two per 100,000 people in 2010, to 15 in 2020. The total number of IBD patients in the country is expected to exceed 1.5 million by this year, according to Ng. The study, which was published in top scientific journal Nature last month, placed countries with low incidence and prevalence rates, such as many places in Africa, in the stage one category. Most countries in North America, Europe and Oceania were classified as being in stage three, meaning the number of new cases had already slowed down, but the total number of patients had steadily increased. While such conditions are not fatal and can be managed with medications and treatments, they cannot be cured. Serious cases can require surgery to remove a patient's colon and rectum, who must then carry a pouch to collect their waste. The late Shinzo Abe resigned as the prime minister of Japan in 2020 due to his struggles with ulcerative colitis. Study co-leader Professor Gilaad Kaplan, a gastroenterologist from the medical school of Canada's University of Calgary, said increases in new cases of IBD correlated with economic advancement. 'The earlier a country transitions into economic advancements, the earlier we see that trigger into stage two,' he said. Kaplan said that while higher incidence and prevalence rates were due to improved detection and diagnostic tools in economically advanced regions, environmental factors also played a crucial role. A person's diet was one of the strongest pillars under the category of environmental factors that contributed to a rise in cases, Kaplan and Ng said. Diets that were high in fat, sugar, ultra-processed foods, additives and colourings could change the health of a person's gut, she said. 'These foods actually affect our gut microbiome, which is the bacteria and viruses inside our gut,' the researcher said. 'They can induce [and] increase bacteria that can cause inflammation ... These bacteria produce toxins and chemicals inside the gut, and then it makes the gut very thin.' Ng explained that the resulting toxins and inflammatory responses inside the gut could then disturb one's immune system. She added that a growing number of IBD patients could see the local healthcare system face an increased economic burden, citing her own separate analysis on the topic. The academic noted that the average medical cost for a patient with the condition was about HK$40,000 to HK$50,000 (US$6,380) a year, about twice the amount paid by someone suffering from type 2 diabetes. Kaplan, meanwhile, said that IBD patients would get older and become more challenging to manage if they developed other conditions such as diabetes or dementia. Both researchers called for preventive actions to slow down IBD's growing prevalence and incidence rates. 'Our models show that if we can prevent the incidence of new diagnoses, even just by a small amount, that has a huge impact on blunting the overall growth or prevalence of the disease,' Kaplan said. He added that people could stave off such conditions by adopting a healthy, whole food diet, while officials could create policies that increased the availability of healthy foods. Sharing her tips on preventing the condition among the children of IBD patients, Ng said: 'Less processed food; just cook everything from scratch. Try not to use so many antibiotics if you can, because that changes the gut microbiome as well.' More from South China Morning Post: For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2025.
