Dental Health & Your Overall Health
“Good oral health helps you enjoy life. It lets you speak clearly; taste, chew, and swallow delicious and nutritious foods; and show your feelings through facial expressions such as smiling.”
— Dr. Rena D'Souza, NIDCR Director, on caring for your teeth over your lifetime
When was the last time you had a dental exam? A cleaning?
Did you know your mouth has its own microbiome? My dentist actually collects saliva to run a test for dementia / Alzheimer’s risk. And mouth bacteria can also tell us your risk for cardiovascular disease.
And as aging women, for those who are at risk for osteopenia / osteoporosis, you want to be cautious about taking pharmaceuticals that can cause jaw bone necrosis.
How does an unhealthy mouth affect your body?
Ongoing inflammation in your mouth can allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream, which may lead to more inflammation in other parts of your body, such as the heart.
So what to do?
Remember to Floss. Either using a flossing pick or a water pik. I love my new water flosser by “Something Nice”. Its cordless and comes in my favorite lavender color. So easy to use. https://somethingnicecompany.com/
Invest in a better toothbrush. Crazy about my cordless SURI. And it frees up space on my bathroom counter. It sticks to my bathroom mirror by magnet. https://www.trysuri.com/en-us/products/suri-sustainable-sonic-toothbrush-uv-c-led-case
Switch out your toothpaste to one containing hydroxyapatite, which can help re-mineralize your teeth. I recommend Boka, Risewell, or David’s brands.
Use an antibacterial mouthwash, such as TheraBreath, Biotene, or CloSYS brands.
The Mouth-Body Connection
As an NTP student, one of the first books we were required to read was all about Weston A Price.
Weston A. Price was a dentist and researcher in the mid 1900s. He traveled the world and studied the populations of various different countries. He observed dietary patterns and how they correlated with oral health.
One of the most significant observations he made was that populations who adopted a more modernized diet containing flours, sugar, and processed foods had drastically higher incidences of tooth decay. And each subsequent generation had smaller mouths and crowded teeth. (Thanks Mom!)
Conversely, he observed that populations of people who ate the raw local foods available to them, such as meats, fish, eggs, dairy, and local fruits and vegetables, had superb dental health and very low incidences of tooth decay. Consequently, these people also seemed to have low incidences of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Nutrients & Oral Health
When the nutrient content of different diets were analyzed, it was noticed that those with higher rates of tooth decay were vastly lower in fat-soluble nutrients such as Vitamins A, D, E, and something that they named “activator X” (now thought to be Vitamin K). It was this combination that is thought to have such a strong protective effect on oral health.
It was also observed that these diets were substantially higher in minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium.
To support the body’s ability to re-mineralize teeth, we must consume the full array of nutrients associated with calcium metabolism and bone formation. These include fat soluble vitamins A, D3, E, K2 and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous.
Other top nutrients for healthy teeth and gums include: vitamin C, bioflavonoids, collagen and bone broth protein, omega-3 fatty acids, trace minerals, and probiotics.
Some of the most nutritionally complete foods for teeth health include seafood, fish roe, pastured eggs, pastured butter, and organ meats. Other great foods for bone health include bone broth and sea vegetables such as nori, dulse, and kelp.
Nothing says “older” than poor condition, yellowed, crowded teeth. What can you do to improve your smile?
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