The mouth is just….a gross place…

I was at a conference where I met a journalist who was writing for a Colorado newspaper. After we chatted a bit, I gave him my card, where my motto is clearly stated:

“Your mouth is the gateway to your health”

I asked him what he thought about it. With a bit of hesitation, he said: “How about changing “mouth” to “smile”? The mouth is just….a gross place…”

I was a bit surprised….and then I wondered how many people feel that way? Are we that disconnected from ourselves? The mouth is one of the few places where we can see the inside of us. So give it some love! Keep it clean! What about the bacteria? It’s part of who we are. We feed it, we keep it’s numbers in check by brushing and flossing, AND we couldn’t live without it. If you eat healthy and have good dental hygiene habits, then we have a healthy mouth and healthy bacteria. If one is eating processed foods and no flossing, then yes, the mouth is gross. But every one of us is in control of that.

Chew on this: Perform a self-exam after brushing. Check the upper and lower gums and teeth, under the tongue and on the inside of the cheeks. Notice any abnormal discoloration or bumps or black/brown spots on the teeth. If you notice a white-yellow film where the gum meets the tooth, then make sure you brush that off. Get to know your mouth! It’s part of you.