Exploring the Mouth-Body Connection

By Andrew M. Sklar, DDS

Andrew M. Sklar, DDS, PC

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Exploring the Mouth-Body Connection

The mouth is the most powerful place in the human body. We all know that it is responsible for chewing, eating, breathing, tasting, kissing, speaking and smiling. But did you know that the mouth is also a diagnostic window into what is going on elsewhere in your body? And that your oral health can significantly impact your overall health?

Infections in the mouth can be an indicator of infection elsewhere, and the inflammatory burden that results can play havoc throughout the body and increase your risk of illness. Current research suggests that people with periodontal disease, a chronic bacterial infection of the gums, are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease and are at increased risk for stroke, arthritis and diabetic complications. Periodontal disease can cause oral bacterial byproducts to enter the bloodstream, travel to major organs and begin infections. Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria trigger the liver to make proteins such as C-reactive protein. C-reactive protein inflames arteries, increases plaque build up and may even cause blood clots that contribute to clogged arteries, heart attacks and strokes.

There are several anatomical (central and peripheral nervous system) and non-anatomical (12 acupuncture meridians) energies that run through the body. Of these, one third of all the cranial nerves exiting your brain come through the lower third of your jaw. And, other than your reproductive organs, the mouth is the only place in the body where all 12 of the acupuncture meridians converge. These cranial nerves and meridians are at work, whether we are aware or not, just as the magnetic poles and gravity works on us, whether we are aware of them or not. Consequently, anything in your mouth that might block or interfere with the flow through these nerves and meridians can result in an imbalance and compromise in your overall health.

Mercury fillings can also have an effect on your overall health. They expand/contract, degrade and corrode over time, potentially allowing decay to creep in between the filling and the tooth, mercury vapors to be released, and/or the tooth to break. Mercury is a neurotoxin, attacking the nervous system, and mercury fillings are being studied for their role in neurotoxic diseases. Consequently, replacement with safer and more biocompatible materials should be considered.

You can see why it is critical to visit your dentist twice a year to ensure you don't have a periodontal or other infection, cavities or cracked teeth, leaking mercury fillings, and/or old, worn dentures, all of which have the potential to seriously and adversely affect your health.