Have you ever heard someone tell you they are excited to go the dentist and have their teeth worked on? It is a rare individual indeed, and for that reason many preventative care visits are delayed, and many necessary treatments are deferred for much longer than they should be. It has long been understood that the health of teeth, the surrounding supportive gum tissues and the mouth in general, all have an impact on the health and vitality of the body, head to toe.
Issues of the teeth that can affect systemic health typically involve unidentified or untreated infections. The teeth themselves and the supporting tissue around the teeth can develop smoldering infections that will over time create issues throughout the body. If a tooth develops an infection deep in its roots, it can smolder along for quite some time, creating a pocket of infection that is a burden on the immune system and a source of chronic inflammation. I have often seen this contribute to chronic fatigue, brain fog and other symptoms in patients. In most cases this type of infection will eventually blow up, causing a lot of pain, requiring a root canal procedure or extraction to deal with the infection. Obviously, it is ideal to get the necessary dental care before things get to that point.
Periodontal disease, or inflammation and chronic infection of the gum tissue is widely understood to contribute to greater health issues. The bacteria of this condition, if not treated and dealt with, can have long term effects on many body systems, including cardiovascular health. This bacteria has been found to contribute to a cascade of inflammation that can impact blood vessels of the heart, contributing to plaque formation, atherosclerosis and ultimately heart disease.
Chronic infection of the gums and teeth are also known to exacerbate insulin resistance and those with diabetes can experience a decline in glycemic control. Some studies link negative impacts on pregnancy outcomes with chronic oral infections, and the inflammation and immune system challenge has even been linked to certain types of cancer development. Certain types of bacterial infection of the gum tissue have also been shown to contribute in some cases to inflammation of the brain and to the amyloid plaques that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Ultimately the burden on the body from chronic smoldering infection, and the associated bacteria and inflammation creates an environment that is ripe for challenging the body’s ability to keep other areas of our physiology vital and balanced. I have had countless patients whose chronic health concerns begin to resolve and heal once their dental and oral health has been thoroughly addressed.
Beyond the grandmotherly advice of good dental hygiene at home with regular flossing and brushing, diet and nutrition also play a big role in keeping the teeth and mouth healthy. Obviously, lots of refined dietary sugars—as food and drinks, is one of the quickest ways to contribute to bacterial overgrowth and inflammation. Weston Price, an early 20th century dentist brought forth a great body of information showing that populations eating traditional diets free from the processed foods of modern diets had virtually no tooth decay, as well as healthier tooth and bone structure. The Weston Price Foundation continues today to be a great resource for nutrition and health.
Other practices like the Ayurvedic technique of “oil pulling”, swishing of coconut or other oils in the mouth, may provide benefit when it comes to supporting a healthy microbial flora in the mouth. Mouthwashes with essential oils like oregano, thyme, tee tree, clove and others are another consideration for supporting health of the teeth and gums.
In addition to a good diet and the usual homework for good care of teeth and gums, finding a dentist you like and getting regular cleanings and exams is really important. Not only will this keep teeth healthy, but along with everything else you do to stay healthy, oral self-care will go a long way toward avoiding a multitude of chronic diseases and keeping your mind and body healthy and vital.
Joshua Phillips, ND is a naturopathic physician and the director at Hawthorn Healing Arts Center in Bend, Oregon. He can be reached at docnaturecure@gmail.com with questions or comment.
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