How Microplastics Can Disrupt Your Oral Health

What you eat, and don’t eat, can have a big affect on the health of your teeth and gums, and your overall health.

Microplastics are unfortunately becoming a larger part of our daily diet. They’re sneaking into what we eat and drink, and we can’t seem to get rid of them.

They’re everywhere. In fact, according to Reuters, the average adult now consumes about the equivalent of 250 grams of plastic every year. Picture a dinner plate heaped up with shredded plastic.

Microplastics are in the water we drink, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and even in the air we breath. And the accumulation of the plastic you inadvertently digest every day isn’t good for the health of your mouth – or your body.

5 Ways Microplastics Impact Your Oral Health

1. Disrupts Your Mouth’s Ecosystem
   Your mouth’s ecosystem, aka the oral microbiome, refers to the community of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms living in your mouth, particularly on the teeth, gums, and tongue. When it’s balanced it promotes good oral health, and helps to prevent cavities, gum disease and bad breath. If too many microplastics accumulate in the mouth this can alter the harmonious balance of these hardworking microorganisms, which could promote infections and gum disease.
2. Slows Down Your Saliva Flow
   Your saliva is your mouth’s super-hero because it works so hard to keep your mouth healthy. It neutralizes cavity causing acids, washes away food particles and bacteria, and also provides enzymes that help with your digestion. A build up of microplastics can disrupt it’s ability to protect you from oral pathogens, and your digestive functions. Microplastics can also reduce the flow of your saliva, causing possible dry mouth symptoms, which will interfere with it’s ability to do it’s job.
3. Stick to Your Teeth
   Since microplastics can stick to plaque (the sticky biofilm on teeth that contains bacteria and food particles), they could become embedded in plaque and persist on the teeth, gums, or tongue. This buildup could: Increase toxin accumulation: Plaque that contains microplastics might carry harmful chemicals or toxins (such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, which are found in plastics) that can leach into the tissues of the mouth, potentially contributing to inflammation or long-term health issues.
4. Interfere With Healing
   Microplastics can disrupt the natural healing processes in the mouth (such as after an injury or dental procedure), as well as impair the regeneration of gum tissue or the enamel of teeth.
5. Harm & Irritate Your Gums
   Besides sticking to your teeth, microplastics can also physically irritate the soft tissues of the gums, especially if they get lodged in the gum line or between the teeth. This irritation may trigger symptoms like redness, swelling and sensitivity, which are all signs of gum disease. As microplastics residue accumulates it can also promote bacteria that causes infections in the gum tissue, leading to more inflammation, and irritation.

Minimize the Build Up of Microplastics in Your Mouth?

Staying on top of good oral hygiene is the best way to reduce their potential accumulation of microplastics in your mouth and limit any possible adverse effects .

1. Brush Twice a Day
   with fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque and any particles that might have built up on the teeth.
2. Keep On Flossing
   Flossing daily will help remove plaque between teeth where brushing may not reach. The less plaque on your teeth the harder for microplastics to stick to them.
3. Rinse Your Mouth After Eating or Drinking
   Water can dilute the concentration of microplastics in your mouth, making it less likely for them to adhere to the teeth, gums, or soft tissues. This dilution effect may reduce the overall exposure of your oral tissues to microplastic particles.
4. Be Mindful of Your Diet
   Keep an eye out on foods and drinks that can carry microplastics like certain processed foods, bottled water, or tea bags that use synthetic materials like nylon, polypropylene.

While more research is needed to better understand the affects of microplastics on the health of our teeth, and how they affect our overall health, it’s probably good to be aware of them. When in doubt, kick up your oral hygiene routine, and don’t forget to to stay on top of your semi-annual teeth cleanings, and dental check-ups.

Speaking of check-ups, if it’s been a while since your last exam or cleaning, please give us a call at (206) 242-0066 to schedule a visit with us or reach out to us online!