Could your teeth be affecting your digestion?



Nutritional Practitioner, BA (Hons), DN, DNT (Distinction)
@AvogelUKHealth
Ask Ali


08 July 2019

How can your teeth impact digestive health?

Whilst some of us may not give the importance of our teeth much thought, for others, the direct links between oral health, the condition of our teeth and our digestive success may have become more apparent. Below are some of the ways that our teeth can impact our digestive health:

  1. Not using your teeth properly – mastering chewing is a must!
  2. Having sensitive teeth
  3. Gum disease
  4. Having braces
  5. Veneers and dentures

Find out more throughout my blog about the impact of our teeth and oral health on your digestion, and what dietary and lifestyle steps you can take to help improve your digestive functions.

1. Not using them properly!

Firstly, we may have perfectly healthy teeth and gums but simply aren't putting them to good use! We actually have 4 different types of teeth and they all have their own specific roles when it comes to chewing:

  • Incisors – Incisors line the front of our mouth and make up the four teeth at the front of both our upper and lower jaws. These are primarily used for the initial biting, tugging and pulling in order to get food into our mouth in the first place.
  • Cuspids – Also known as our canines, these teeth resemble the pointy teeth that we see in meat eating animals. The pointy shape of these teeth allows us to tear food and they are particularly useful for tougher textures such as meat.
  • Molars – Molars make up the majority of our mouth and fall into several sub categories including premolars. These are larger, flatter teeth that, when worked by the muscles lining our jaw, help to pound and grind food into an easily digestible pulp.
  • Wisdom teeth – Also known as third molars, our wisdom teeth are located at the very back of our mouths. We don't even get these teeth until mid adulthood so their importance is perhaps a little debatable - for many of us they cause more negative issues than good! Our wisdom teeth generally assist with the grinding functions of our molars.

So, we've been given a lovely set of teeth with specific functions, but all with one aim – breaking our food down into easily digestible chunks, ready to move on from the mouth and onto the next step in the digestive process, the stomach.

Now, as we initiate chewing, this also prompts the release of saliva which contains all-important digestive enzymes. These are super important for helping to break down our latest meal into simple, easily-digestible units, so it's vital we allow for enough chewing time.

Without giving this initial stage of digestion the time and attention it deserves, you can put yourself more at risk of experiencing uncomfortable symptoms including acid reflux, heartburn or indigestion. Longer-term the effects could be even more serious and may even be linked to issues such as the symptoms associated with IBS or food intolerance.

Top tip to overcome this issue:

This is simple – prioritise chewing! Whilst many of us are guilty of not giving chewing a second thought, it's super important. Vital physical and chemical processes take place in our mouth as a result of taking some time to chew thoroughly – all of which are very key for priming the stomach for the next stage in the digestive process.

Aim to chew each mouthful at least 20 times and ensure you're left with a soft mush before being tempted to swallow on down.

2. Sensitive teeth

Do sensitive teeth trouble you? Sensitive teeth can crop up when the enamel, the invisible protective coating on your teeth, becomes worn and/or your gums recede, although this symptom can also come and go over time.

The excruciating discomfort associated with increased sensitivity is far from pleasant and could result in your appetite becoming affected or you avoiding certain, possibly nutritious, foods.

Also, it just so happens that many of the foods that can make sensitive teeth worse, don't tend to do your digestive symptom much good anyway – especially when it comes to symptoms of acid reflux – go figure!

Top tip to overcome this issue:

Whilst brushing techniques are important (including avoiding brushing too hard), the types of foods you are eating can also be having an impact when it comes to suffering from sensitive teeth. Aim to limit eating or drinking overly acidic foods in excess including fruit, fizzy juice, alcohol, coffee and ice-cream and, if you do succumb now and again, be sure not to brush your teeth immediately after these options, as this could be especially damaging.

3. Gum disease

If you struggle with symptoms of gum disease, also known as periodontal disease or gingivitis, oral hygiene habits should be top of mind – it might be worth talking to a dental hygienist if you have any concerns in that department. This is important, because actually, we're gradually learning that there may be links between gum disease and more widespread issues including many of the symptoms associated with IBS or IBD (1) symptoms affecting the stomach including acid reflux, and also cardiovascular risk factors.

This is thought to be linked to a number of possible mechanisms - firstly the balance of bacteria in your mouth may transfer elsewhere in a state called dysbiosis. An unfavourable balance of bad versus good bacteria can easily translate into an array of uncomfortable symptoms and a general state of ill-health. However, this could also be a case of a double edged sword as, if you already suffer from symptoms of acid reflux research suggests this may be more likely to adversely affect the balance of bacteria that reside in your mouth.2

Inflammation is also thought to have a part to play in these processes. See, bad bacteria are very good at breaking down the delicate structures of our digestive system (be it our gums or the lining of our digestive tract further along the way), and this in itself could be contributing to much of the inflammation thought to be underlying many of these issues. (2)

Tips for overcoming it

Hygiene tips are once more an important consideration when it comes to tackling gum disease. However, eating habits can also have quite an influence on the balance of bacteria that exist throughout our digestive system, which we know may have an important part to play.

Chewing properly can help protect the balance of bacteria as it helps encourage your stomach to secrete sufficient acid – this is vital for keeping bad bacteria in check. Then, once you've made a conscious effort to focus on improving some everyday habits, incorporating a prebiotic supplement such as a source of L+ lactic acid can also help affect your microbiota favourably.

4. Braces

As we've now discussed the important, individual roles of our different types of teeth, it's no surprise that misaligned teeth may not be ideal if we're trying to actively improve our digestive functions.

So, as well as for aesthetic reasons (a common reason nowadays for people to acquire braces) it may also be an idea to look into braces if you feel the position of your teeth could also be affecting your ability to eat properly. However, it's also important to note that when it comes to braces it's often a 'no pain, no gain' scenario as it can be quite a painful process at times!

As a result of this, people may feel obliged to change their eating habits, and this in itself could also be having an impact on your digestion.

Tips for overcoming it

After first having your braces fitted and after checkups thereafter (which often involve tightening of the brace) the advice is often to stick to liquid or soft foods to help cope with the discomfort. Firstly, bear in mind that loading up on sugary options like ice-cream may not do your digestive system or your teeth much good, so opt for more nutritious options by blitzing up your normal nutritious go-tos.

But next, also consider that the lack of chewing could be adding its own set of detrimental effects. There is a well known saying 'chew your water and drink your food', and remembering this may prove useful for those with braces. Basically, it's important to take your time to chew your food properly, chewing and letting sufficient saliva mix with each mouthful (hence the 'drink your food') in order to support your digestion; but actually, if we're consuming liquids, initiating those chewing actions is still important to help prepare your stomach sufficiently, just as if you were eating solid food components.

5. Veneers or dentures

Finally, if you've had veneers or dentures fitted as a result of broken, decayed or unsightly teeth, you might wonder how this might affect your digestion.

Depending on the quality, fit and shape of your new teeth, this could also be affecting how well you're able to chew; remember all our different teeth have very specific functions!

Then, depending on your ability to chew, you may be tempted to avoid certain foods for an easier life. Of course, avoiding certain foods or nutrients (such as meat or nut options which tend to rich in nutrients including B vitamins or iron), you could be putting yourself more at risk of developing deficiencies.

Tips for overcoming it

Opting for dentures or veneers could certainly improve your quality of life for a number of reasons – perhaps your mental health if you're concerned about the look of your teeth, or by improving your ability to eat more generally.

However, it's important to consider this carefully and take a trip back to your dentist if you feel the alignment or function of your new teeth isn't quite right. If your ability to chew is being affected, or if you're finding you're continually skipping certain components of your diet for no reason other than your new teeth, it's time to take some action.

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