It’s An Inside Job – Can This Mouth Be Saved?
Modern science has allowed us to restore a smile in a day. What used to take weeks, even months of visits to your dentist can now be handled in two appointments. However, that doesn’t mean we can do all the work for you. Taking care of your teeth and gums is every bit as important as eating healthy foods, brushing your hair, or grooming your nails.
Why is it then–that so many people can’t see that good oral health is about action and more action. You can’t passively sit on the sidelines by not regularly brushing and flossing, professional teeth cleaning, and twice-yearly dental exams and expect no consequences. Your entire body’s health will suffer.
Last week I had two patients in my office who refer to themselves as holistic healers of the mind and body. I was shocked when I looked in the mouth of one of the women. Here was a stunning woman in her early 50’s, who looked amazing on the outside, but on the inside–I found her teeth hanging by a thread. If she sneezed, her teeth might have ended up across the room! She had the worst case of periodontal disease I have seen in 10 years–and she’s teaching others about how to heal their mind and body!
I wondered, “How can she be so disconnected and not know the mouth is the opening to our entire overall wellness.” Her mouth told me her history, that the devastating bone loss did not happen overnight. I felt her terror as we went over each tooth and her gums, as she told me, “I can’t go without my teeth for even an hour.” My heart ached to tell her that most likely–she had waited too long. So much infection had eaten away at her bone, making the likelihood of implant placement and immediate restoration nearly impossible. Even so, even in the worst oral health cases, while teeth may not be able to be saved and bone loss may be extreme, you can’t give up trying to reverse periodontal disease.
I recommended along with committing to the discipline of frequent brushing what was left of her teeth while we developed a treatment plan, that she use a WaterPik oral irrigation flosser regularly. It is my preferred flossing alternative method.
Our mouths provide us clues just like the rest of our body does–that there are problems we need to address. Check to see whether your teeth are loose. If they are, then you are having dental issues that must be addressed. The longer you wait and put that trip to the dentist’s office off–the harder it is for us as dental health professionals to help you. The problem only gets bigger and any solutions are compromised by procrastination.
No amount of healthy eating and exercise will achieve total body wellness if your mouth is starving for attention. Love and look after your mouth as much as you do any other part of your body. Don’t neglect it and it will look after you for many years to come!
In great health,
Dr. Sanda
Make your oral health a top priority. Contact Dr. Sand Moldovan to schedule a consultation.
