Many people see oral health as mainly a cosmetic concern.
Bad breath is unpleasant, so they chew a TicTac.
Discolored teeth ruin even the nicest makeup, so they use whitening toothpaste.
Even the insurance industry treats teeth separately from the rest of healthcare, with a totally different set of insurance options–generally at a much higher price.
But health keynote speaker Dr. Partha Nandi recognizes that there is much more to oral health than looks, smell and even comfort. He recognizes the complex interplay of cause and effect between the health of the mouth and the health of the body, and he emphasizes the importance of holistic health that encompasses all the body’s systems.
The Vitality Link: Oral Health’s Influence on Holistic Health
There are many links between oral health and the rest of the body.
Some are obvious. An infection in a tooth or the gums can easily reach the bloodstream, leading to dangerous illness.
Sore teeth can result in improper chewing, which can have widespread effects on digestion and nutrient absorption.
But these links are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the feedback between oral and holistic health.
The gut is the engine that runs the whole body, impacting every aspect of health.
It controls mood, can increase or soothe inflammation, absorbs nutrients, and removes harmful substances and toxins.
But did you know that oral health directly feeds gut health?
When the mouth is inhabited by harmful pathogens, that begins a destructive stream of bacteria that only gets stronger as it moves through the digestive tract.
But when the bacteria in the mouth is dominated by beneficial bacteria, a totally different chain reaction begins.
When you chew your food, the bacteria in your teeth immediately begin to inhabit the food. They are carried down into the digestive tract, to the intestines where they join the complex web of the gut microbiome.
In addition to bacteria that are swallowed, bacteria in the mouth can also enter the bloodstream, especially if your gums are sensitive and prone to bleeding.
If the microbiota that travel from your mouth to your gut are beneficial bacteria, they help boost and regulate mood, make nutrients more bio-available, and help complete the breakdown of fibers so as to make efficient use of all nutrition.
But if they are harmful bacteria, they create biofilms that reduce nutrient absorption, cause inflammation, and put toxins in the bloodstream that cause brain fog, poor mood, disturb sleep and cause a whole host of other effects.
The Health of the Body Also Impacts the Health of the Mouth
The causality of oral health isn’t a one way street.
When poor health occurs in the body, the mouth often tells the story. From candida overgrowth in the body that causes a white growth on the tongue, to incorrect body pH encouraging overgrowth of bacteria that results in tooth decay, you can tell a lot about your body’s vitality by the health of the mouth.
As a result, health problems within the mouth can result in health problems throughout the body, which can then feed back to worsen conditions in the mouth still more.
Oral Care is Health Care
Dr. Nandi emphasizes oral health as a vital step toward total health of the body’s systems.
Brushing your teeth twice daily doesn’t just make your breath smell fresh; it removes biofilms of harmful bacteria that would otherwise continue creating problems throughout your gut.
Mouthwash doesn’t just help prevent gum disease; it’s foundational to ensuring that only the good bacteria in your mouth survive.
In return, eating prebiotic bacteria doesn’t just keep your colon regular; it gives good bacteria in your mouth a safe vehicle to reach the hind gut.
And when your food is chewed mindfully and slowly, it doesn’t just fuel your body well; it also provides the minerals that are used to rebuild and strengthen your teeth.
And you may have heard that products like xylitol gum can kill harmful bacteria in the mouth while sparing the beneficial bacteria. But did you know that xylitol that enters the digestive tract has the same effect on bacteria and biofilms in the intestines?
All this is why Dr. Nandi emphasizes oral care so strongly. It goes far beyond a surface desire for nice teeth, good odors, and even basic comfort.
Caring for your mouth by discouraging colonies of bad bacteria and encouraging the growth of beneficial microbiota begins a cascade of good effects throughout your body and even your mind.
Dental hygiene and health are a foundational piece of the health habits that create the vitality advantage. Find some new oral health habits to start today and begin to see the benefits of vitality throughout your body’s systems.
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