Dental 4 Less, Cigarette smoking alters the mouth microbiota
Smoking significantly changes the mouth’s microbiome, with potential implications for tooth decay and the ability to break down toxins, according to results published in the ISME (International Society for Microbial Ecology) Journal.
Much recent research has focused on imbalances in the gut microbiota and how they relate to immune disorders such as Crohn’s disease and gastrointestinal cancers.
There are around 600 species of bacteria in the human mouth. Over 75% of oral cancers are thought to be linked to smoking, but it remains unclear whether microbial differences in the mouth affect the risk for cancer.