Most of us have heard or read about the mind-body connection, where the emotional or psychological wellbeing of someone has a direct or indirect impact on his or her physical wellbeing.

Well, wellness-based dentistry focuses on the mouth-body connection. Because such a connection exists! It is a very real and undeniable thing that unfortunately most practitioners tend to ignore. Well, I can’t remember the last time a set of teeth walked into my practice without their owner! The teeth are very much apart of the entire human entity, and they should rightfully be treated as one.

The sad reality is that many people, be it the layman or the health practitioner don’t see it this way. When was the last time your dentist asked you about your nutrition, your stress levels, your exercise regime or your daily lifestyle? All these factors have a direct impact on, and cannot be seen in isolation to your oral and overall health.

So to prevent this blog from becoming one long explanation of scientific terms and physiological processes, I’m going to explain two of the most common general diseases that have a strong connection with oral health: cardiac disease & diabetes type II

1. It has been scientifically proven that periodontal disease (commonly known as gum disease), can cause or contribute to cardiac illnesses.

In simple terms, the bacteria and inflammatory cells from the infected gums enter the bloodstream via the gum tissue. The bacteria are pumped throughout the entire body via the bloodstream and eventually penetrate the cells lining the blood vessels. This causes the inflammation of the blood vessels, causing them to become more rigid, increases atherosclerotic lesions (fatty deposits in the blood vessels) and eventually narrowed arteries. This of course, reduces the blood flow and oxygen supply to the cardiac tissue. Blood clots can subsequently form, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

2. Type II Diabetes has a very strong correlation with periodontal disease.

For those of you that need a quick recap of how diabetes works:

• In a healthy patient, glucose (which is found in all sugary or carbohydrate-rich foods) enters your bloodstream and can only be absorbed by your cells if a chemical called insulin (“key”) binds to insulin-receptors (“lock”). Once the key unlocks the lock, glucose can enter the cells and be converted into energy.
• In a diabetic patient, an insufficient amount of insulin is produced, or the insulin cannot bind to its receptor effectively. This causes an increase in the glucose that circulates in your blood stream.

So what does this have anything to do with gum disease?

We spoke about how bacteria from your mouth enters your bloodstream and causes inflammation of your blood vessels. So of course this affects the way insulin binds to its receptor, increasing blood glucose levels, and eventually causing Type II Diabetes.

In addition, this free-floating glucose in your blood can also bind to haemoglobin (an oxygen-carrying molecule in the blood). This causes inflammatory cells to be released, causing further inflammation of the tissues, including the gums. This increased inflammation causes delayed wound healing, which is commonly seen in diabetic people.

So you can see, it’s domino effect. Something as simple as not keeping your oral hygiene up to scratch can snowball into something much bigger, and more detrimental. 

3. A few of the other diseases that have associations with oral conditions are:

• Respiratory illnesses (as bacteria in the mouth can bind to droplets of saliva which are inhaled, and can subsequently cause lung infections)
• Psychological disorders, where stress and anxiety are common signs – causing chronic bruxism or teeth grinding (and eventually worn down teeth, TMJ disorders, changes in the way you bite, inflammation and spasm of the jaw muscles etc)
• Bulimia or pregnancy-induced morning sickness, where erosion of the teeth is commonly seen as a result of them being in prolonged contact with acidic reflux
• People who suffer from osteoporosis or a compromised bone density, may have more resorption or shrinkage of the jaw bone. This allows bacteria to invade the gum and bone tissue, further causing gum disease
• Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy or menstruation can cause the gums to become swollen and sometimes painful

They say your mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body. For the longest time, I had no idea what this meant, or how such a small part of your body can have such a significant impact on the rest of your being. What if I told you: the mouth is one of the best warning systems to predict future systemic illnesses, years before they even manifest.

Consider this example: enamel (which makes up the outer layer of the tooth) is the hardest substance found in the body. If your dentist finds a “white spot”/an early cavity on your child’s tooth, what does this tell us? The enamel is being broken down, most likely by an excessively sugary diet. So if the hardest tissue in the body is being destroyed, can you imagine what is going on in the rest of the body? How other organs and systems are being affected?

This mindset allows us to intercept not only dental decay, but also other illnesses that affect the whole body.  Our human bodies are so much more than the sophisticated accumulation of separate functioning parts. Teeth don’t function in isolation to the rest of the body, but is rather in a symbiotic relationship with it. The human body is one entity- that works harmoniously with itself and with its environment.

If some of you are concerned that you may suffer from periodontal disease, look out for the following symptoms or warning signs:

• Easily bleeding gums
• Loose teeth
• Puffy/inflamed gums
• Painful gums
• Bad breath/halitosis

Periodontal disease is so easily prevented; all you guys have to do is:

• Ensure you stick to a good oral hygiene regime (brush 2x daily, floss 1x daily)
• Listen to your nagging dentist/hygienist, and actually go for your 6 monthly check ups and cleanings.
• Remember: we really do have your best interest at heart, because we know how serious this unnecessary disease can be.

We care about so much more than just your teeth – we care about you, as a person, as a human, and not just your teeth.