December 2024 Newsletter

Dear Valued Patients,  

I am thrilled to welcome you to the first edition of my newsletter.

Health Beyond Teeth marks an exciting new addition to my practice. Here, I’ll share dental insights and explore how oral health impacts overall health. After joining the American Academy of Oral and Systemic Health, I have deepened my understanding of the “oral-systemic connection” and how connected oral health is to overall health, and I want to share that knowledge with you.

As a dentist, I’ve always been committed to more than just treating teeth. I believe that the mouth is a gateway to the body, and I’ve witnessed first-hand how oral health can affect everything from heart health to diabetes and even brain function. This is why, in each newsletter, you’ll find articles (with references for a more in-depth reading) that delve into the relationship between oral health and general health alongside my practical dental advice.

My goal in this issue and all future Newsletters is to empower you with the knowledge to help you take control of your Health Beyond Teeth.

I am so excited to have you join me on our health and well-being journey.

As always, thank you for trusting me with your care.
 

Warmly,
Dr. Dean Carlston

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Join My Dental Family! For those without dental insurance, I am officially launching my In-Office Savings Plan this month. In my office, you will receive personalized, affordable dental care designed to treat you, not just your teeth. We welcome you to become part of our dental family, which cares about your total well-being. Call/text or E-mail my office. Detailed information is on my website, or you can call the office.

To my insurance patients: If you have not used your insurance benefits, remember that they will expire at the end of the year.

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Citations are not linked because you cannot return to the Newsletter once you leave. This newsletter is also posted on my website under Patient Information with active links to all the cited sources, should you want to explore them further.

Three Bites:

1. Teeth are as unique as fingerprints:

Each person‘s teeth are unique, much like fingerprints. Your teeth' shape, size, and alignment are specific to you, making them a valuable tool for identification. This is why dental records are often used in forensic investigations. Source: American Dental Association, (ADA) teeth identification and Verywell Health

2. Your Teeth can remember your diet:

The enamel on your teeth can actually “remember “the foods you’ve eaten. The minerals in your teeth respond to the types of food you eat, which is why enamel can wear down or stain over time. For instance, acidic foods can wear down enamel, and colored foods can stain it. Source: National Institute of health, enamel, and diet and Verywell Health

3. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body:

Your tooth enamel, (the thin covering on the outside layer of your teeth) is harder than bone! While bones are strong, enamel is even harder due to its composition of minerals like calcium phosphate. However, despite being hard, it is also vulnerable to decay if not properly cared for.
Source: National Institute of Dental and Cranial Facial Research (NIDCR) Enamel Strength.

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Oral Health goes Beyond the Mouth—the Oral-Systemic Link

Maintaining good oral health is essential not only for a healthy mouth but also for your overall well-being.

The mouth is home to a wide variety of bacteria. Most of these are harmless, some play a beneficial role in the digestive process. and many are protective. However, some strains cause disease, can leave the mouth, and travel throughout the body. They can cause different diseases and other problems depending on where they land. Each time you clean your oral cavity, you’re doing more than freshening your breath and preserving your smile. Research suggests you may also improve your overall health and even extend your health span and lifespan.

Anita Aminoshariae, professor of endodontics at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, notes, "People often see dentistry largely as a cosmetic specialty, but “the mouth is not disconnected from the rest of the body.” She further states,” Quite the opposite: studies suggest that oral health is associated with everything from heart health to lifespan,” even if many people don’t realize it. This is called the “oral-systemic link”

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“People with gum disease have a 2X to 3X risk of having a serious cardiovascular event” Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School

“93% of people with gum disease are at risk for diabetes” American Diabetes Association.

“Gum disease increases pancreatic and kidney cancer by 63%” Harvard University.

“People with gum disease had a memory decline 6X faster than those who didn’t in just 6 months.” Alzheimer’s Society

“People with gum disease are at a 37% increased risk of developing severe mental illness, anxiety, or depression.” University of Birmingham

“Men with gum disease are more than 2X more likely to develop erectile dysfunction.” International Journal of Impotence Research

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The Role of Unwanted Oral Bacteria:

Oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream through inflamed gums and travel to other body parts, potentially causing inflammation and contributing to systemic diseases. For example, bacteria from the mouth have been found in cancerous tumors, diseased heart valves, and brain tissue of people who died from Alzheimer’s disease.
Source: Time magazine Aug 5 2024, titled, “Reading this Will Make You Want to Floss”

Oral health and systemic diseases: Periodontal disease, a common gum infection, has been associated with several systemic health issues:

1. Cardiovascular Health:

Studies suggest that individuals with periodontal disease may have an increased risk of heart disease. The inflammation caused by gum disease can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaque builds up in the arteries.
Source: American Dental Association

2. Diabetes Management:

Some of the earliest findings on this topic concerned links between oral health and diabetes, and it’s now well established that diabetic patients’ blood sugar levels may improve when they’re treated for gum disease—and that their gum disease may worsen as their diabetes does. Source: Time Magazine

There is a directional relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease, and severe disease can make it more difficult to control blood sugar levels. Source: Uptodate

3. Cancer Risk:

Periodontitis has been linked to an increased risk of several types of cancer. Research suggests that the chronic inflammation caused by periodontitis may play a role in the development of cancers, particularly head and neck cancers, esophageal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. The bacteria involved in gum disease can enter the bloodstream, spreading inflammatory molecules throughout the body. The potential mechanisms have to do with systemic inflammation and bacterial translocation. Source: Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2022

Neglecting dental hygiene, mainly by not flossing, can increase the risk of head and neck cancers by 50%. Researchers have identified over a dozen types of mouth bacteria associated with significantly higher cancer risks. Source: The Scottish Sun Sept.29,2024

4. Inflammatory Bowel Disease:

Your mouth is connected to your gut, so it provides your dentist with lots of information about what is happening with your digestive system. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis – long-term conditions caused by chronic inflammation - can both potentially be spotted in this part of the body. Telltale signs include persistent dry mouth and lots of fissures on the tongue, which would lead me to seek a referral to a doctor. Source: The Scottish Sun Sept. 29, 2004

5. Acid Reflux:

This is another gastric issue that can be spotted on the teeth first, especially if the patient has so-called ‘silent reflux’ rather than heartburn. Sufferers find that their stomach acid escapes back into the esophagus and sometimes travels as far as the mouth, especially at night. This leads to damage to the enamel of the teeth. However, making lifestyle changes can reduce the impact. You can also sleep with your head and neck raised so that gravity works against the acid. Source: The Scottish Sun Sept.29, 2024

6. Moms-to-be Need to Take Extra Care of Their Oral Health:

Gum disease is linked to a higher risk of premature labor. This is because hormone levels during this period can hurt your oral health. A study also found that women who went into early labor recorded gum health scores four times lower than those who had a full-term birth. They had eight times more plaque as well. The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, found that moms-to-be with untreated tooth decay or fillings were at risk of premature births also. Source: The Scottish Sun Sept. 29, 2024

7. Dementia:

Another byproduct of gum disease is that it can cause significant problems for your brain. A bunch of inflammatory mediators, which your body releases in response to the bacterial buildup, are released into the bloodstream. “We know from cardiovascular studies that this inflammation can travel through the bloodstream and reach the heart., and what we hypothesize is that it can also trigger neuroinflammation [an inflammatory response in the brain],” Cyprien River, MD, associate research scientist at the Falcone Lab in the Department of Neurology at Yale University, tells SELF. “The brain is hypersensitive to this kind of reaction,” he says, which may lead to damage over time. Source: SELF Magazine

To support your oral and overall health: Regular brushing, flossing, a water flosser (I recommend everyone use one), and regular dental checkups. It is important to visit my office at least every six months and see Angela or Gita for professional cleanings, whereby we monitor your oral health. I also hope that you are eating a healthy diet, limiting sugary foods and beverages as they can contribute to tooth decay and gum disease, and avoiding tobacco, as smoking and other tobacco products can increase the risk of gum disease and oral and lung cancer.

If there are topics that you want me to discuss in my Newsletters, please send me an email. Thank You!

Source:

Flossing Teeth Benefits - Time
Oral Bacteria and Colorectal Cancer Risk - Verywell Health
Oral Health as a Dementia Risk Factor - Self
Things Teeth Reveal About Health - The Sun
Preterm Birth Risks and Baby Survival - The Sun
Oral Health as a Dementia Risk Factor - Self (duplicate)
Tooth Enamel and Oral Health - Verywell Health
Personalized Dental Care - Little Kids Dentistry