27 Jan Good vs. Bad: Why Bacteria Matter for Oral Health
You probably know that plaque forms when bacteria stick to your teeth and build colonies. That’s why you brush and floss every day—to keep those bad bacteria in check. But did you know that some bacteria are actually good for your mouth?
Your mouth is full of bacteria: some bad, some good. The good bacteria help maintain a neutral pH balance inside your mouth, which protects your tooth enamel from acid attacks and cavities. This effect keeps inflammation in check and helps prevent gum disease.
Here’s why encouraging those beneficial bacteria is so important.
What Do Bad Bacteria Do in Your Mouth?
When the bad bacteria outnumber the good ones, they can cause all sorts of oral health problems. The first thing they do is stick to your teeth, where they start to multiply and build colonies of plaque. Every time you eat something sugary or starchy, you’re feeding those bad bacteria and letting them grow.
As plaque builds, it makes the environment in your mouth more and more acidic. This leads to “acid attacks” that destroy your tooth enamel and irritate your gums. And when plaque is left to harden, it turns into tartar, and the situation gets even worse.
Excess plaque and tartar buildup is the main cause of cavities and gum disease. But those are not the only problems. The uncontrolled growth of bad bacteria in the mouth can spread inflammation to other parts of the body. In fact, gum disease has been linked to many chronic health problems, including heart disease and diabetes.
How to Discourage the Growth of Bad Bacteria
Fortunately, there are many natural ways to fight bad bacteria in your mouth. Besides brushing and flossing, here’s what you can do.
- The bad bacteria like to eat sugar and starch, so try to avoid sugary drinks and processed snacks. You might also want to try a natural sugar substitute like stevia or xylitol. The bad bacteria can’t digest these sweeteners, so you can enjoy your favorite treats without the plaque buildup.
- Don’t forget to brush your tongue! Daily brushing or cleaning with a tongue scraper is a great way to eliminate the bad bacteria.
- Give oil pulling a try. Not only does it reduce the number of harmful bacteria in your mouth, it also helps keep bad breath in check.
What Do Good Bacteria Do in the Mouth?
There are many types of bacteria that are actually good for our bodies. The beneficial types offer a wide range of benefits, such as aiding in digestion, making your food taste better, reducing inflammation, and lowering the risk of infections.
Recent research suggests that some kinds of good bacteria might even help your body fight tooth decay naturally. When good bacteria are strong, they work together to keep bad bacteria in check. Otherwise, an overgrowth of bad bacteria can jumpstart tooth decay and gum disease.
How to Increase Good Bacteria in Mouth Naturally
The first step in encouraging the good bacteria is changing the environment inside your mouth. Here’s what to do:
- Bad bacteria like a dry mouth, so drink lots of water to keep your mouth hydrated. Drinking water will also help remineralize your tooth enamel, restore a neutral pH, and keep your mouth clean.
- Next, add more probiotics to your diet. Probiotics like Lactobacilli plantarum and L. acidophilus work together to prevent plaque buildup. You can get them from eating foods like kefir and plain yogurt, or by taking a supplement.
- Start using a salt rinse instead of mouthwash. Most mouthwash products contain harsh ingredients that will wipe out the good bacteria along with the bad ones. A gentle, homemade salt rinse will fight bad bacteria and keep your breath fresh.
Holistic Dental Care Is Good for Your Whole Body
At Prescott Dentistry, we believe that a healthy mouth equals a healthy body. We can help you find natural ways to fight the bad bacteria that cause plaque and encourage the good bacteria that help prevent tooth decay.
We also offer gentle, non-invasive treatments like ozone therapy and laser therapy that kill the bad bacteria and help restore balance in your oral microbiome. Schedule an appointment today to learn more about our holistic alternatives.
Photo by Kaitlyn Pixley on Unsplash used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 11/16/2025.