Why is Oral Health So Important for Everyone?
A healthy mouth does more than just show off a nice smile. Think of it like a door. When your mouth is healthy, that door is shut tight, keeping bad stuff out. But problems like bleeding gums or mouth breathing can open that door. Mouth breathing, in particular, can let in bacteria, fungi, and dirt, contributing to disease. When you breathe through your nose, the air is filtered and humidified, and it picks up nitric oxide, a big factor in lowering inflammation and stress levels. So, it's super important to know the signs of a healthy mouth and how it's connected to your overall health. This helps keep that door closed and you healthier overall.
What Are the Signs of Good Oral Health?
A healthy mouth is free of cavities and does not show signs of gingivitis (gum disease). There should be no pain when chewing food or brushing teeth, and the teeth should not wiggle (unless they are baby teeth ready to come out). Healthy gums are not red or swollen, and they don't bleed when brushing or flossing. Odor-free breath and abundant free-flowing thin saliva are great indicators of a balanced pH level and healthy microbiome in the mouth.
When the gums are bleeding or inflamed, the doors between the mouth and the body are open, and bacteria found only in the mouth during gum disease can jump into the bloodstream. This infection attaches to white blood cells, transforming them from disease fighters into carriers of infection. It's like turning your body's soldiers into spies for the enemy, and the consequences can be profound.
Oral Health and Overall Health
Respiratory Illness and Airway Issues: Breathing through the mouth can bring harmful bacteria, fungi, and dirt into the body. Unlike nose breathing, which filters and humidifies the air and includes nitric oxide to reduce inflammation, mouth breathing can lead to problems like enamel breakdown and demineralization of teeth. These issues can further contribute to kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes. Dentists specializing in airway health can offer preventive solutions.
Diabetes: High blood sugar creates a breeding ground for cavity-causing bacteria. Moreover, it weakens white blood cells responsible for fighting infection, leaving people with diabetes more vulnerable to severe and longer-lasting gum disease. Proactive prevention is crucial.
Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia: The bacteria causing gum disease, P.gingivalis, has been found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, and it exhibits a neurotoxic effect. Protecting the mouth could also mean protecting oneself from cognitive disorders.
Enamel Deficiency: Often caused by vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy, a lack of enamel makes it easier for cavity-causing bacteria to attack the teeth. Proper care and attention can mitigate this risk.
A Path to Wellness with the Oral Health Coaching Membership
With the Oral Health Coaching Membership, you have access to an online classroom environment and support group where expert insights into products and resources for healing and oral health maintenance are readily available. Restore your oral health and overall wellness and learn to recognize the vital connection between the mouth and body's defense against inflammation and disease.
The importance of oral health extends beyond aesthetics and comfort; it's about the fundamental integrity of your entire body. Keep the door closed to illness and inflammation by maintaining your oral health and empower yourself with knowledge and support through the Oral Health Coaching Membership.
Outside Sources:
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aau3333
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/oral-
health/#:~:text=The%20mouth%2C%20also%20called%20the,free%2C%20and%20pain%2Dfree.
https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(14)00183-8
