How to keep your teeth and gums healthy by giving them good bacteria

Your mouth is a producer of bacteria, but if the good bacteria are stronger than the bad ones, your teeth and gums won't get tooth decay and gum disease.

The good bacteria in your mouth help fight off the bad ones by making acids that kill them. They also make an enzyme that breaks down sugars into smaller sugars that don't stick to the teeth, so they can be washed away.

If the balance between good and bad bacteria is disrupted — for example, if you eat too many sugary foods — then there aren't enough enzymes to break down all of the sugar. This results in plaque building up on your teeth and eventually causing cavities or gum disease.