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The Wellness Blog

Ten Signs Your Mouth is Making You Sick

Dr. Sheri Salartash
Dental Excellence Integrative Center

Most people think of the mouth as a place where food comes in and where you smile. But it is far more than that. The mouth is considered as one of the most important parts of your body. It’s the gateway to the rest of your body, and effects the rest of the body’s health. The truth is that your oral health impacts your systemic health and can manifest warning signs of something more serious occurring. Here at Dental Excellence Integrative Center, we help patients understand the ten common signs of an oral dental imbalance which can ultimately affects your overall health.

  • Leaky gut and dental issues are a chick and the egg situation. Its hard to determine where exactly the problem starts, the gut or the mouth. This is because the month is the beginning of the gut, and anything that enters the mouth will also enters the gut. It is known that the same type of inflammation that causes leaky gut also causes gum disease. Without addressing the mouth, little progress can be made to heal the gut.
  • Grinding and clenching is not just a bad habit but can be signs of stress, trauma, unresolved problems, and abnormal jaw position and growth. In addition, grinding and clenching can also be related to sleep apnea and airway problems. The ultimate treatment for long lasting healing, is to consider addressing the jaw and airway structure.
  • Nighttime urination is often connected with sleep apnea and airway issues. It can occur even if you don’t snore. This affects both adults and children. It can cause long term damage on the overall health.
  • Chronic headaches can be a sign that something more serious is occurring. Therefore, it’s important to consider what is inside your mouth. Old mercury fillings contain an average of 50% mercury and release its toxin for more than 30 years. These toxins can pass blood brain barrier and placenta. Causing heavy metal exposure and a variety of symptoms such as headaches. In addition, bone infections in the jaw such as cavitation can also be a contributing factor.
  • Autoimmune disease is connected to something called the “three-legged stool” theory, which suggest that autoimmune disease is the result of a genetic predisposition, leaky gut, and environmental trigger. For example, if you are predisposed to have an autoimmune disease and have a leak gut, oral infection (environmental factor) can trigger the autoimmune disease.
  • Food intolerances are the result of dysbiosis of bacteria in the oral and gut environment. If the mouth has an imbalance of microbiome there is a large chance the gut, has it too. An imbalance of microbiome can often be caused by harsh bacteria-killing oral care product such as alcohol-based mouthwash. The good microbiome is constantly being killed, allowing the bad microbiome to over grow. Probiotic or prebiotic products are a good alternative and can help restore the good oral microbiome.
  • Joint pain is caused by inflammation of the joints. Research has discovered that people with joint pain are also likely to have oral infection, cavities, periodontal disease, and imbalanced of oral microbiome.
  • Chronic infections can be due to harmful bacteria or infections lurking in cavitation, old root canals, and even old fillings and crowns. It’s known that the blood supply for the tooth is the same blood supply for various parts of the body. Therefore, bacteria from the mouth can easily travel and infect the rest of the body.
  • Bleeding gums does not just mean that you need to floss more. Instead, it is a major warning sign that something else is going on. And should not be ignored. Bleeding gums causes gum disease, which have been found to be link to heart disease, strokes, and preterm labor. It just goes to show there’s a deep connection between oral and overall health.
  • Bad breath can be embarrassing but it’s a major indicator of an unhealthy mouth. There can be multiple issues at play, such as imbalanced oral microbiome, gum disease, gut issues, abnormal saliva pH, and even silent infections in old root canals, cavitation, and crowns.

But this is not all it. Research has also discovered other major disease such as erectile dysfunctions, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer, breast cancer, arthritis, kidney disease, respiratory infections, prostate cancer, and still birth (just to name a few), all having a strong link to imbalance oral health. Here at Dental Excellence Integrative Center, our patients understand the connection between oral health and systemic health. Because they know that their oral health can ultimately save their life. So don’t hesitate to reach out to our office, if you, a family member, or a friend wants to learn more.

Dental Excellence Integrative Center

3116 Mount Vernon Ave Alexandria, Virginia 22305