{"id":230,"date":"2023-11-10T21:16:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-10T21:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shannonstokesdds.com\/blog\/?p=230"},"modified":"2023-12-10T21:19:03","modified_gmt":"2023-12-10T21:19:03","slug":"understanding-oral-bacteria-and-growth-rate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shannonstokesdds.com\/blog\/2023\/11\/10\/understanding-oral-bacteria-and-growth-rate\/","title":{"rendered":"How Many Bacteria Live in Your Mouth?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"OralYour mouth is home to hundreds of species of oral bacteria. Although the thought of germs hiding in your mouth might make you cringe, not all bacteria are bad. Some are crucial for your dental health<\/a>, while others can harm your teeth and gums. A balance between good and bad bacteria is important. Here’s how much bacteria can be lingering in your oral cavity and what you can do to keep levels under control.<\/p>\n

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Oral Bacteria and Growth Rate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is impossible to know exactly how much bacteria is in your mouth because various factors affect the growth rate at any given time, like drinking a glass of water. However, researchers performed a study to determine what microorganisms can be found in the average mouth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers collected plaque from every tooth surface and found an average weight of 10 mg. With teeth only accounting for 1\/20 of all oral surfaces, they multiplied 10 by 20 to determine the overall biomass. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 1 mg of oral biomass hosts approximately 100 million microbes, multiplying by 20 concludes the number of bacteria in the mouth to be around 20 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oral bacteria levels fluctuate regularly. They can grow rapidly given, the right environment. During a study, researchers found that certain species of bacteria can double their numbers in just 20 minutes when in a controlled environment, like a Petri dish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since your mouth isn’t a controlled environment, the number of bacteria changes regularly, such as when swallowing your saliva or taking a sip of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regulating Oral Bacteria Growth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An overgrowth of certain bacteria can affect your dental health. Not only can it lead to bad breath, but you can be at risk of cavities and gum disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can keep bacteria levels under control by following a few tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n