The word “bacteria” has very negative connotations for most people. Throughout life, it is likely that you’ve been told that you need to avoid bacteria and that this type of microorganism is bad for you. In reality, though, you wouldn’t be able to survive without the bacteria that support your body. To give you an idea of how important bacteria can be to your body, this article will be exploring their influence, giving you an idea of what to expect when you are fighting bacteria of your own.
Your Skin
While you may not be able to see it, your skin is a habit for trillions of different microorganisms. Some of the bacteria on your skin is likely to be bad for you, but the majority of them do very important work. Some bacteria are responsible for breaking down sweat, while others deal with external threats to your body. Everyone has a unique set of different bacteria on their skin, making this aspect of your body as unique as your fingerprint.
Your Stomach
Digesting food is a challenging process, but acid isn’t the only way that your body does the job. Digestion starts in your mouth, and bacteria are an important part of the process that food goes through as it is broken down in your body. The bacteria in your stomach can have a dramatic impact on the rest of your body, giving you the chance to change your physical health when you have an impact on your gut. Products like probiotics can help with this, giving you the chance to balance the bacteria in your belly to make sure that it is good for you.
Your Mouth
As mentioned above, bacteria play a heavy role in the digestion that occurs in your mouth. Oral bacteria does more than simply help you with food, though; it also makes it possible for your teeth to stay healthier for longer. Your teeth and gums rely on bacteria, just like the rest of your body, and this is something that many people neglect when they are considering their oral health. You should always brush your teeth, but using products that will remove all traces of bacteria in your mouth are usually bad.
Fighting Sickness
Your immune system is largely based on different types of cells that are able to deal with invaders, though bacteria also play a role in your defences. Bacteria is good at killing bacteria, and this means that a lot of the microorganisms on your body are responsible for keeping you healthy. Without this, it would be far easier for you to get sick, and this is always worth keeping in mind when you clean your body.
Okay, so bacteria is important, but what are you supposed to do with this information? Normal soap isn’t likely to disrupt your bacteria ecosystem too much, though using it on a very regular basis can be bad. Strong chemicals can also be bad for the bacteria in and on your body.