Jonathan Borba/Unsplash Rethinking Oral Health in the Modern Age For generations, oral hygiene has been synonymous with brushing, flossing and routine dental checkups. These practices remain essential, but modern science is revealing a more intricate picture of oral health - one that goes far beyond mechanical cleaning. At the heart of this evolving understanding lies the oral microbiome, a dynamic ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms that inhabit the mouth.