THE MOUTH-BODY CONNECTION
WHY YOUR TEETH AND GUMS MAY HOLD THE KEYS TO GOOD HEALTH NEW HEALTH
Research is now uncovering many ways that poor dental hygiene can negatively affect our wellbeing. ‘The common denominator in almost every degenerative disease is chronic inflammation, and gums are the most common site,’ says Dr Ron Ehrlich, holistic dentist and author of A Life Less Stressed: The Five Pillars of Health And Wellness.
‘Chronic inflammation or infection in your mouth communicates with the rest of the body. That’s why gum disease is now linked to diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, and even some cancers.’
Dr Ehrlich explains how to maximise oral health... STEER CLEAR OF SUGAR Avoiding sugar in its various forms has become part of our current health conversation. It’s not a new story. I’m proud the dental profession has been warning about the dangers of sugar for at least 50 to 60 years. If what you eat or drink can decay the hardest structure in your body, teeth, imagine what it does to the rest of your body. Actually, you don’t have to imagine. You just need to look at the epidemic of preventable chronic diseases in our community, together with issues of diabetes and obesity occurring at an ever-younger age.
, DON T WAIT FOR PAIN Have a regular check-up with a dentist or dental hygienist to carefully monitor oral health. Don’t wait for pain – by the time something becomes painful in the mouth from decay or gum disease, it is often quite advanced, and the solutions are more complicated and expensive than they need to or would otherwise be.
MIND YOUR MICROBES There are 10 times more microbes in and on our bodies than human cells. They mainly live in our digestive tract, of which the mouth is the first part. Friendly microbes help keep us healthy, physically and mentally. Unfriendly microbes make us unwell. A nutrientdense diet is the key to developing friendly healthy microbes. Include a variety of lots of vegetables of lots of colours, a moderate amount of grass-fed protein, healthy fats such as coconut oil and olive oil, and a healthy balance of salt such as Celtic salt or Himalayan rock salt. Water is by far the preferred drink (I filter mine).
Breathing through your mouth, rather than your nose, also dries out your mouth and makes you more susceptible to an imbalance in your oral microbiome. So remember to breathe through your nose where possible.