Wake up and live:Fresh Breath Month 2026: Why a healthy mouth is a powerful tool for whole-body wellness

This February, Fresh Breath Month takes on a more meaningful message: a healthy mouth supports a healthy body. New research is reshaping how we think about oral care, showing that the state of your mouth doesn’t just determine the smell of your breath or the whiteness of your smile, it influences everything from inflammation levels to cardiovascular health.

“Your mouth is part of your cardiovascular system,” says Ivohealth Advisor Dentist Dr Johan Hartshorne. “When your oral microbiome is in balance, it helps protect your body. When it’s not, inflammation rises and that can impact systemic health, including blood pressure.”

The oral microbiome: an ecosystem that protects you

Forget the outdated idea that “all bacteria are bad.” The mouth is home to over 700 species of bacteria, some harmful, but many essential. A healthy oral microbiome is one where beneficial bacteria thrive and keep harmful ones in check.

“Your oral health is shaped by your genetics, your immune system and the balance of your microbiome,” says Dirna Grobbelaar, Oral Hygiene Advisor for Ivohealth. “When the bacteria in your mouth live in harmony, they help protect your body, lower inflammation and support overall wellbeing. A healthy microbiome isn’t just good for your mouth, it has a meaningful impact on your whole-body health.”

This connection becomes especially clear in metabolic and cardiovascular wellness. Poor oral health can make it harder to control blood sugar levels, increasing susceptibility to gum disease and triggering a cycle of inflammation that can also influence blood-pressure regulation. Research now shows that harmful oral bacteria don’t stay confined to the mouth; they can enter the gut and bloodstream, driving inflammation linked to heart disease, diabetes and hypertension.

Meanwhile, beneficial nitrate-reducing bacteria support healthy blood pressure through nitric-oxide production. When daily care slips, this balance is disrupted, leading to gut dysbiosis, heightened inflammation and a higher risk of cardiovascular complications.

Why professional cleanings matter more than ever

Fresh Breath Month is the ideal opportunity to highlight the value of regular professional oral hygiene cleaning, particularly using EMS Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT), a modern, minimally invasive approach for removing plaque and biofilm.

Regular professional cleanings, especially EMS Guided Biofilm Therapy, which combines air, water and powder to gently remove plaque and stains, offer one of the most effective ways to clean and gently whiten teeth. By breaking down biofilm thoroughly but delicately, GBT helps maintain the delicate microbial balance essential for whole-body wellness. 

“Most people don’t realise how many places in the mouth they miss,” says Grobbelaar. “Teeth overlap, have grooves, fillings, crowns and more: areas where plaque can easily mature into tartar if not kept in check. And once tartar hardens, only a professional cleaning can remove it.”

GBT safely removes harmful bacteria while supporting beneficial microbes, helping lower inflammation and promoting better systemic health. When paired with consistent daily care, it becomes a powerful tool for restoring balance and preventing disease.

Fresh breath isn’t about “killing bacteria”, it’s about maintaining balance. Grobbelaar recommends a simple routine using gentle GUM products designed to preserve enamel, slow plaque maturation and support a healthier oral environment.

Her go-to products include:
• GUM Original White Toothpaste – gentle on enamel and helps sustain white teeth
• GUM Original White Floss – removes plaque before it matures
• GUM Pro Sensitive Brush – effective yet gentle cleaning
• GUM Soft-Picks Pro – for sensitive gums and hard-to-reach interdental spaces

“When you don’t clean between your teeth, plaque forms and matures and that’s where problems really start,” she adds. “Bleeding gums means things have already progressed to a dangerous place. Healthy daily cleaning protects the good bacteria you need and prevents the bad ones from taking over.”

A practical shift toward everyday prevention

This Fresh Breath Month, the message is simple: a healthier mouth helps support a healthier body. And that starts with protecting the oral microbiome, not stripping or sterilising it, but maintaining the natural balance that keeps inflammation and disease in check.

This thinking underpins Ivohealth’s From Chair to Care campaign, emphasising how professional cleans and everyday home care work together to support long-term oral health.

And the most effective way to get this right is through regular professional cleanings and daily habits that reach beyond the surface. Cleaning between the teeth, using gentle tools that support beneficial bacteria, and understanding the role of biofilm all contribute to a mouth that actively supports overall wellness.

“Small, consistent habits really do make a difference,” says Grobbelaar. “And pairing those habits with routine professional care is one of the most straightforward ways to support your oral and systemic health.”

A healthier mouth, a healthier you

As more research highlights the connection between oral bacteria, inflammation and cardiovascular wellbeing, Fresh Breath Month is evolving. It’s no longer about minty breath or cosmetic whitening, it’s about understanding the mouth as an essential part of the body’s wider ecosystem.

This February, South Africans are encouraged to take a fresh look at their oral health by:
— Scheduling a routine professional cleaning (ideally one that targets biofilm effectively like EMS GBT)
— Refreshing daily habits, especially interdental cleaning
— Choosing gentle products that support the mouth’s natural balance

Small steps, taken consistently, help maintain a resilient microbiome, supporting whole-body health long beyond Fresh Breath Month.

Guest: Dirna Grobbelaar, Oral Hygiene Advisor for Ivohealth