Every system in your body is uniquely connected, but did you ever think that your teeth could be connected to your heart health, joint pain, or gut health? Not only can your teeth and gums tell you a lot about what is going on in your body, but they can also be causing some of those problems. Let’s dive into some common topics about oral health & how it relates to overall wellness!
The Gut/Oral Health Link
According to Dr. Blodgett, a recent guest on the Be Organic podcast, gut health begins in the mouth. Oral bacteria spreading throughout the body is a common occurrence, and the gut is no exception. A lot of things go down the GI tract from our mouths are unhealthy, and the oral microbiome fights hard to shield us from harmful bacteria.
Some signs from your mouth that your gut health might be off:
- Acid reflux takes a toll on your teeth (the acid can melt teeth, especially the back molars)
- Sleep apnea or sleep disturbances can lead to mouth breathing and the saliva dries up, no longer protecting gums and teeth (flattened, red gums)
Wisdom Teeth
We’ve probably all had our wisdom teeth removed at this point, but did you know that 50-70% of removal sites become infected, sometimes without people even knowing? This infection and inflammation of the removal site can lead to problems elsewhere in your body. In holistic medicine and holistic dentistry, practitioners are studying the Meridian Tooth Chart and seeing that each tooth has a unique connection to other organs and tissues of the body. For example, Dr. Blodgett discussed with us the connection wisdom teeth have to heart health! He said that plaque build-up within the arterial walls parallels with plaque build-up on the teeth. There is a similar bacterial exposure in both situations. Want to read more about the heart-tooth connection? Check out the book Beat the Heart Attack Gene by Bradley Bale and Amy Doneen.
Respiratory Diseases
Your oral care and the state of your mouth and gums have a correlation between fighting off respiratory diseases. We are meant to breathe primarily through our nose, using the nasal passages to regulate air, heat air, humidify or de-humidify air, and much more before it ever reaches your lungs. If breathing through your mouth, your nasal passaged can’t do their jobs and you are more susceptible to respiratory problems!
Mercery vapor could also be coming off of your old fillings and when you breathe at night you are breathing in mercery vapor and could create a chronic state of inflammation. If you’re inflamed you’re more prone to other diseases from the lungs!
Not only is the state of your oral health reflective of the state of your systematic health but it influences it directly. The quality of your food matters, your chewing matters, and your breathing matters.
“If we want people to have great oral health we have to have great nutritional health, great breathing work.”
– Dr. Blodgett
Listen and learn more about these topics on Episode 34 of the Be Organic Podcast!
Ready to get your oral health on? Check out some of these cool products we love:Dr. Bronner’s organic peppermint toothpasteConventional toothpaste is often packed with chemicals, preservatives, artificial colors and flavors. If you’re going to eat and drink clean, make sure you brush clean too! Organic toothpaste with no synthetic foaming agents & only simple clean ingredients is the way to go.Tongue scraperIf you don’t use a tongue scraper, it’s time to start! Clean the surface level or particles that contain bad bacteria. Less bad bacteria can help freshen breath, lessen the likelihood of tooth decay, and the bad bacteria is less likely to travel to your gut and throw off your gut health!Charcoal bamboo toothbrushBrush your teeth and make an impact at the same time! Using an organic bamboo toothbrush means that you can scrub away (with soft bristles that protect your teeth) and rest assured that your toothbrush is eco-friendly and biodegradable.Organic coconut pulling oilBye-bye traditional mouthwash! Say hello to this non-GMO, alcohol-free, fluoride-free, preservative-free, & artificial flavor-free pulling oil. This process helps swish away bad bacteria from your mouth without the harsh chemicals and artificial colors and dyes that traditional mouthwash has!