Karius and Baktus – you exist!
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Karius and Baktus – you exist!
It's now called the rather fancy Streptococcus mutans, but it still destroys our teeth if we're not careful.
You can also transmit it very quickly from person to person via saliva.
You are not evil killer bacteria, but rather slow, persistent ones that need a lot of food, preferably sticky sugar.
Like any bacterium, you need good conditions to multiply:
1. Acidic environment – unlike on the skin, a pH value of 7 should prevail in the mouth.
2. A good supply of nutrients
3. A stable biofilm/plaque
If you know what conditions are needed for a healthy system to collapse, then you can start right there!
pH value: this is so important because an acidic pH value dissolves "limescale", as is known from bathrooms; really stubborn limescale deposits are removed with acid.
Now, teeth are made of calcium compounds, and although they are the hardest substance in the body, they dissolve easily in a constantly acidic environment.
Once the structure of the tooth has softened, caries bacteria have an easy time.
They adhere more easily to tooth enamel and form a thick, sticky bacterial plaque film. This film matures over several days, and eventually the bacteria within the film communicate with each other – this effect is called quorum sensing.
Monosaccharides serve as the best source of nutrients. The bacteria metabolize them, producing acids in the process.
A vicious cycle ensues, ultimately leading to the collapse of the healthy oral microbiome – a real thriller.
But we are not helplessly at its mercy!
Good oral hygiene, including both the tooth surfaces and the spaces between them, is the first step.
The plaque must not be allowed to mature and organize itself.
To carry out aggressive disinfection at this point would be "throwing the baby out with the bathwater".
Disinfection also kills our good helper bacteria, of which there are millions in the mouth.
It is now known that a diverse microbiome is the healthiest.
All the body's microbiomes are interconnected; if the oral cavity is disturbed, this affects the intestines and vice versa.
The key to a diverse and healthy oral microbiome is therefore to strengthen the good bacteria and avoid anything that weakens them.
One key factor is the pH value; every healthy microbiome has its own healthy pH level.
PH value.
She likes it slightly sour, her mouth neutral.
This leads to simple rules:
1. Avoid anything that aggressively lowers the pH value; constant contact with acid and sugar opens the door to destruction.
This includes all snacks, carbonated drinks, and sugar.
2. Regular and sufficient oral hygiene
Because these things are often neglected in teens and young adults, they frequently develop tooth decay at that age, which can easily be avoided.
Even without giving up kissing!
It's now called the rather fancy Streptococcus mutans, but it still destroys our teeth if we're not careful.
You can also transmit it very quickly from person to person via saliva.
You are not evil killer bacteria, but rather slow, persistent ones that need a lot of food, preferably sticky sugar.
Like any bacterium, you need good conditions to multiply:
1. Acidic environment – unlike on the skin, a pH value of 7 should prevail in the mouth.
2. A good supply of nutrients
3. A stable biofilm/plaque
If you know what conditions are needed for a healthy system to collapse, then you can start right there!
pH value: this is so important because an acidic pH value dissolves "limescale", as is known from bathrooms; really stubborn limescale deposits are removed with acid.
Now, teeth are made of calcium compounds, and although they are the hardest substance in the body, they dissolve easily in a constantly acidic environment.
Once the structure of the tooth has softened, caries bacteria have an easy time.
They adhere more easily to tooth enamel and form a thick, sticky bacterial plaque film. This film matures over several days, and eventually the bacteria within the film communicate with each other – this effect is called quorum sensing.
Monosaccharides serve as the best source of nutrients. The bacteria metabolize them, producing acids in the process.
A vicious cycle ensues, ultimately leading to the collapse of the healthy oral microbiome – a real thriller.
But we are not helplessly at its mercy!
Good oral hygiene, including both the tooth surfaces and the spaces between them, is the first step.
The plaque must not be allowed to mature and organize itself.
To carry out aggressive disinfection at this point would be "throwing the baby out with the bathwater".
Disinfection also kills our good helper bacteria, of which there are millions in the mouth.
It is now known that a diverse microbiome is the healthiest.
All the body's microbiomes are interconnected; if the oral cavity is disturbed, this affects the intestines and vice versa.
The key to a diverse and healthy oral microbiome is therefore to strengthen the good bacteria and avoid anything that weakens them.
One key factor is the pH value; every healthy microbiome has its own healthy pH level.
PH value.
She likes it slightly sour, her mouth neutral.
This leads to simple rules:
1. Avoid anything that aggressively lowers the pH value; constant contact with acid and sugar opens the door to destruction.
This includes all snacks, carbonated drinks, and sugar.
2. Regular and sufficient oral hygiene
Because these things are often neglected in teens and young adults, they frequently develop tooth decay at that age, which can easily be avoided.
Even without giving up kissing!
