Medical research has confirmed the connection between oral health and overall health, yet many people, including students, lack proper dental care.
“The mouth is the window to the body,” said Connie White, professor at U. Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry.
Oral care has been shown to relate so closely to overall health that a dentist can suspect almost immediately if a patient is suffering from other health problems. Diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune diseases such as H.I.V., eating disorders, drinking problems, tobacco use, fungal infections, oral cancer and leukemia all manifest themselves in the mouth, White said.
“The link between gum disease and heart disease is becoming established in the literature. The bacteria in the mouth from gum disease can actually travel through the vessels and contribute to the thickening of the vessel walls and this contributes to heart disease,” White said.
“One slogan we tell our students to consider is: ‘Your mouth is talking. Are you listening?’” she said.
“College life is like a perfect storm because we do all the bad stuff,” White said. More stress, poor diet, alcohol and tobacco use and a tendency to get less sleep all contribute to oral health problems.
Lack of sleep and stress both lower the body’s autoimmune response, making it less efficient at fighting off infection.
“Alcohol is a biggie,” White said. “I can tell immediately if a person drinks or smokes heavily because it dries out the mouth.”
A dry mouth can lead to an increase in tooth decay, tooth sensitivity and possibility of gum disease.
“Smokeless tobacco is not your friend either. I’ve seen horrible cases of oral cancer,” White said.
“Be your own best citizen by paying attention to any changes in your mouth,” White said. “Lumps, bumps, discoloration of gum tissue and bleeding of the gums are all signs that something is wrong.”
Flossing and brushing twice a day is strongly recommended, she said.
“And try to make it to a dentist at least once a year, preferably twice a year, just to get your mouth looked at,” White said.
Many dentists are sensitive to the needs of uninsured people and offer payment plans.