When we experience heavy digestion, bloating, gas, or even fatigue after eating, we usually think of the stomach, liver, or intestines. But... what if the root of the problem lies much higher?
What many people don’t know is that digestion doesn't start in the stomach — it starts in the mouth. And if that first step doesn’t work properly, the entire digestive process can be affected.
At Clínica Áureo, we work with a holistic view of health, and today we want to talk to you about a connection that often goes unnoticed: the link between your oral health and your digestive and immune wellbeing.
When digestion goes wrong… starting in the mouth
The mouth does more than smile or speak — it’s the gateway to your digestive system, where three essential processes happen:
- • We break down food with our teeth (chewing)
- • We mix it with saliva, which contains digestive enzymes
- • We form the food bolus that goes to the stomach
If this first step is not done properly, the rest of the digestive system must work harder — and that’s where many problems begin.
Real consequences of poor oral health
1. Ineffective chewing: Missing teeth, pain, or a poor bite can make chewing difficult. Food reaches the stomach improperly broken down, causing slow digestion, gas, reflux, or heaviness.
2. Lack or alteration of saliva: Saliva is essential to start digesting certain nutrients. When there’s dry mouth — due to stress, medication, or age — the process becomes slower and less efficient.
3. Gum inflammation or chronic infections: Issues like gingivitis or periodontitis don’t just affect your mouth: they can release bacteria and toxins into the gut, worsening inflammatory conditions.
4. Imbalanced oral microbiota: The bacterial flora in the mouth directly impacts the intestinal flora. If there’s an imbalance, it will affect your digestion and immune system too.
Mouth, microbiota, and immune system: a direct connection
Did you know your mouth is the second most complex bacterial ecosystem in your body, after the gut?
When there’s an overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the oral cavity — from cavities, infections, poor hygiene, or illness — many of them reach the gut alive, altering your microbiota and compromising overall health:
• Chronic inflammation: oral infections can trigger a constant inflammatory response, also affecting the intestines.
• Overloaded immune system: your body has to focus on controlling oral infections, leaving other immune functions less protected.
• Fatigue, inflammation, or autoimmune flare-ups: studies increasingly link oral health to autoimmune diseases and functional digestive disorders.
• Entry point for toxins: some oral bacteria produce toxins that travel through the bloodstream, affecting intestinal mucosa and digestive balance.
What your mouth says about your health
A check-up with our dental team in Palma de Mallorca could tell you more than you expect. Because your mouth is not just a smile — it’s a direct window to your digestive and immune wellbeing.
When was your last dental visit?
At Clínica Áureo, we offer a free initial dental consultation. Book your appointment and take the first step toward improving your digestive, immune, and oral health. A healthy mouth is more than just aesthetics — it’s the beginning of a healthier life.
