Gateway to Health

The oral microbiome is the world of bacteria. Nearly 800 unique microorganisms live in your mouth, ears, nose, throat, and nasal passages. These bacteria are intimately connected to their downstream counterparts living in the gastrointestinal tract, or gut microbiome. Because our mouth is constantly in contact with the outside world through breathing, eating, and so on, it is the gatekeeper and first line of defense for your health. The mouth is the meeting place for the gut, the immune system, and the outside environment. For decades, dentistry and oral care has been relegated to the sidelines and has taken a back seat as a secondary form of medical care. New evidence links oral health to overall health and many of the serious chronic diseases that are reaching epidemic levels. Through your viewing of this docuseries, you will learn that the mouth is much more than the home for teeth, but is instead the Gateway to Health.