Almost every one of us have experienced an unhealthy gut with some symptoms of an upset stomach, abdominal pain, food sensitivities, bloating, and indigestion.  We tend to take supplements and stay hydrated with electrolytes to treat the symptoms. Now, we add probiotics as a possible prevention.

A lot of companies have developed a large variety of probiotics of different strains and additives in attempts to keep our pH levels balanced.  What many of us do not realize is how our mouth affects not just our daily life, but more importantly, it is the gateway to our overall health.  Just like our GI tract, our mouth has a balance of both good and bad bacteria.  However, dysbiosis or the imbalance of the oral microbiome can occur resulting to bad breath, gum disease, and tooth decay.  Dysbiosis can be caused by tonsillitis, oral thrush, high carbohydrate and sugar diet, and stress.  The changing of diet and continuing our routine dental cleanings with checkups may help improve this essential ecology of the oral cavity or prevent gum infection.  However, we often trust and invest in oral-care products on the market in hopes to helping our mouths stay fresh and clean.  Although many products do promote with good outcomes, many products have ingredients that are too harsh wiping out not only the bad but also the good bacteria.  Such harsh chemicals can mask the symptoms of the underlying silent disease.  In severe cases, periodontal disease which is an infection of the gums and deterioration of bone.  People with periodontal disease are likely to have diabetes, pregnancy risks, Alzheimer’s and 2x more likely to have a stroke and heart disease.

Another issue that we often face until it’s too late is oral cancer.  Some risks factors are patients who are 50 years of age or older, who have in the past or current use of tobacco, patients that have been diagnosed or with immediate family history of oral cancer, and signs may include consistent sores or ulcers, difficult or discomfort swallowing, change in voice, and lumps or swelling present in the mouth or throat.  According to the American Cancer Society, more than 54,000 new oral and throat cancer cases are diagnosed yearly in the US.  Unfortunately, early detection technology was limited in the past, resulting in only 28% of patients receiving an early diagnosis.  This is a significant concern, given that those diagnosed in the early stages have a 44% higher survival rate than those diagnosed in the late stages.

However, new testing options are becoming available such as OralID Cancer Screening and a saliva test.  OralID Cancer Screening is an examination under fluorescence technology consisting of a blue light that can illuminate abnormalities in the oral cavity.  In addition, VIOME™ offers an at-home saliva test that patients can do in the comfort of their home with simple instructions.  Once VIOME™ receives the specimen sample, their lab will test using RNA sequencing technology which measures the molecular activity of the oral microbiome and human cells identifying early biomarkers of periodontal disease, caries, gum inflammation, and other risks of oral and systemic diseases.  Studies show that patients who have done the VIOME™ CancerDetect Oral + Throat Saliva Test have a 40% 5-year survival rate with late-stage oral cancer and 84% have been diagnosed in early stages.  Therefore, early detection is highly encouraged.  As a leading dental office in the Tampa Bay area, we are happy to provide this service at an introductory fee of $449. 

Tampa Bay Dental Implants and Periodontics is located at 6700 Crosswinds Dr., Ste. 200-B, St. Petersburg. For more information and to schedule an appointment, call 727-384-9122 or visit tbPerio.com.