Gut health has become a significant focus in wellness, but what most people don’t realize is that gut health begins in the mouth, where harmful oral bacteria can disrupt the gut microbiome and lead to systemic health issues. According to the CDC, 45% of people have gum disease, which directly affects the gut’s ability to fight inflammation and disease. That’s why if people want to heal their gut, they need to start with the mouth.
As founders of the award-winning SLATE electric flosser that’s invented by a dentist, we’ve made oral health achievable in just 60 seconds a day, and have shared our oral health tips and health insights on Men’s Health, Allure, GOOP, and Guy Raz’s ‘How I Built This’.
As we start a new year, here are 3 quick habits to enhance your gut health in under 60 seconds a day:
- Take a Vitamin K2 Supplement: Vitamin K2 supports both oral and gut health by reducing oral inflammation and supporting gut microbiome balance. To make it a seamless part of your routine, store your supplement alongside your toothbrush and flosser, ensuring daily intake.
- Floss Daily: Within just 24 hours of not flossing, the oral biofilm—a sticky layer of bacteria—hardens into plaque, which can’t be removed with brushing alone. This plaque allows harmful bacteria to enter the bloodstream and gut, disrupting the microbiome and contributing to systemic imbalances. The Slate Electric Flosser, with Gum Sweeps™ technology, removes plaque and bacteria quickly and effectively, making daily flossing easier and more efficient.
- Scrape Your Tongue: A 2022 study found that up to 80% of harmful bacteria in the mouth originate on the tongue. Removing these bacteria daily can reduce the burden on your gut microbiome. The Slate Electric Flosser, available on Amazon, has a built-in tongue scraper, decreasing the amount of tools and steps necessary to build healthy habits!
Why It Matters: The link between oral health and gut health is science-backed, and poor oral hygiene has been shown to increase the risk of systemic inflammation–increasing the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease by 38%. That’s why taking care of our mouths can be one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to improve gut wellness and even extend your lifespan, in just 60 seconds a day.
