A Healthy Mouth to Fight Migraine?

A recent study published this month at Frontiers in Pain Research suggests that a healthy mouth may fight migraine. And it's not a new thought.

Many years ago, the news went viral that you might lengthen your life by doing something as simple as flossing your teeth. The exact links between dental health and general health is debated, but there is a link.

This particular study focused on one area of mouth health - the microbiome.

We've talked a lot about the good (and bad) bacteria in the gut, and the importance of probiotics.

But while we've focused on the intestines, we may have missed the importance of the microbiome in the mouth. A lack of balance in mouth health may be connected to other neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s and pain conditions causing inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

This new study found that those with worse oral health were more likely to have migraine and general body pain. Certain types of bacteria were especially associated with migraine (Lancefieldella (genus) and Mycoplasma salivarius).

The solution is probably not as simple as adding or removing certain types of bacteria. This is a very complex area of research, but it's probably most useful so far to interpret this as a call to general oral health. (You can read a helpful summary of the study at WebMD here.)

So what are some ways you can promote a good healthy oral microbiome?

General oral hygiene. Yes, of course, brushing and flossing are still recommended.
Cut back on sugar. This isn't just to avoid cavities - sugar and excessive acid can cause too much growth of some bacteria, upsetting a healthy balance.
Eat healthy overall. Diverse foods will help here - foods that promote a healthy microbiome (beans, almonds, onions, peas for example), and of course fermented foods such as yogourt and sauerkraut. Seriously, if you can get some sauerkraut into your diet -- !
Consider a probiotic supplement
You might want to consider a prebiotic toothpaste, even just for 3 months as a healing break. (Check out Desert Essence Prebiotic Plant-Based Whitening Toothpaste, Superteeth products, Zendium or CariFree.)

For more great tips, check out: Advancing an understanding of the oral microbiome (Dentistry).

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