The Body-Mouth Connection: More Than Just a Gut Feeling

THE BODYMOUTH

CONNECTION: MORE THAN JUST A GUT FEELING

The last 18 months have been a turning point in our lives, fundamentally transforming how we work and live. For better or for worse, it has also given many of us the opportunity to slow down and pause, bringing us greater awareness of our personal wellbeing and a renewed focus on our health. HEALTH speaks with Dr. Michael Davidson, Director Clinical and Professional Education, EMEA about the body mouth connection and why it matters.

ORAL HEALTH IS OVERLOOKED

Never has the old adage ‘your health is your wealth’ held more meaning for the world than it does today.

When we consider what constitutes ‘good health’ however, one crucial factor was often overlooked pre-COVID and continues to be overlooked today – and that’s the importance of maintaining good oral health, points out Dr. Davidson.

SYSTEMIC DISEASE OFTEN BEGINS IN THE MOUTH

Often described as ‘a mirror into the rest of the body’, he explains that the health of oral tissues is recognized as a possible powerful indicator of one’s overall health, with a significant number of diseases and conditions often revealing themselves in the mouth. “According to the Academy of General Dentistry, many systemic diseases often manifest first in the mouth – including heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disease,” he explains, and saliva, in particular, has become a useful diagnostic tool that can alert doctors to the presence of toxins, hormones, and certain indicator antibodies. He adds, “Science is increasingly highlighting the link between our oral health – and more specifically our oral microbiome – and our general well-being, with recent studies demonstrating its impact on everything ranging from our digestion, immune system and blood pressure to the levels of inflammation in our bodies.” What all of this points to, is that there exists an unequivocal link between how healthy our mouth is and how well we are.

ORAL MICROBIOME

So, what exactly is our oral microbiome, and why does it matter so much? According to Dr. Davidson, oral microbiome is the bacteria and its genes that exist within our mouth. “There are billions of these bacteria in different parts of our bodies, including in the gut and on the skin, and they start colonizing at birth,” he says, in fact, the mouth is home to the second most diverse microbial ecosystem in the body, after the gut, with approximately 700 different species of bacteria found there. The microbiome community in your mouth harbors both healthy and not so healthy bacteria. Healthy bacteria are used to protect your mouth, for example, reducing tooth decay. While more harmful bacteria which stick to teeth, produce toxins that destroy the enamel which create cavities in the mouth and inflammation in the body. These bacteria have also been linked certain diseases, such as heart disease.

A BALANCED MICROBIOME

When our microbiome is in balance, it helps us thrive, he says. However, when this balance is interrupted, due to factors including poor diet, poor oral hygiene, among other issues; it may impact the harmony in our bodies, causing pathogens and inflammation to manifest, and may lead to more serious problems and systemic disease. “Dental practitioners therefore, have a vital role to play within the community, to educate patients about these risks and act as a vital touch point to screen for health issues and complications during routine check-ups with their patients,” he says. “Backing the importance of oral health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that oral diseases are the most common non-communicable diseases that affect people during their lifetime.” And yet, while there is a general acceptance that it’s ‘good’ to look after your oral health, there appears to be less public awareness about the link between oral health and overall health, and in particular, the role the oral microbiome plays in this.

EMBRACING A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH

Within the health sector, Dr. Davidson observes that they are seeing an increasing shift towards a more holistic approach to the human body and a more functional way of treating health concerns and disease. He elaborates, “More practitioners are recognizing the benefits of getting to the ‘root’ of the problem, rather than simply treating the symptom. There appears to be a more conscious consideration of the natural symbiosis that exists within our bodies and allows us to function so seamlessly and organically.” H