Mouth Body Connection Focuses On Improving Health Outcomes By Increasing Collaborations Between Dentists and Physicians

The mouth body connection is being integrated into diverse practice models to achieve health equity and support the advancing the health of the public. Thankfully, this concept allows patients seen by dentists and doctors to study the critical link between oral health and overall health.

“Oral health is too often excluded from the health care system and from conversations about overall health. Although, recent and ongoing research clearly highlights the mouth body connection,” said Shailee Gupta, D.D.S., immediate past chair of the ADA Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention.

Interestingly, besides promoting treatment to optimize a patient’s oral health status prior to organ transplants, and other surgical procedures, the Council on Advocacy for Access will:

• Work with gynecologists to create a protocol to ensure the safety of the mother and infant during all nine months of pregnancy by identifying oral and systemic issues previously undetected.
• Promote mouth body collaboration within health care facilities. Increase treatment discussions related to hypertension, diabetes and dental disease management.
• Collaborate with pediatricians to promote oral assessments at pediatric and age-one visits.
• Advocate for state Medicaid reforms to expand medical access to care for vulnerable persons, especially the elderly.

Apparently, Research shows that harmful bacteria and inflammation in the mouth can indicate and even cause systemic conditions throughout the body. Periodontal disease has been connected to systemic health conditions such as:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Pre-term/low-weight birth
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cancer and more

Conversely, the link is often bidirectional. Many systemic diseases, conditions and even medications can affect a patient’s oral health.

Start ’em young

Apparently, dental schools across the country are taking the opportunity to teach students about the mouth body connection. Their goal is to collaborate more closely with physicians to advance patients’ overall health.

Michael J. Reed, D.D.S. is the founder of the Dallas-based Mobile Dental Care and president of the Specialty Care Dentistry Association. He is an advocate for improving dental and medical integration.

“Really, it is on my list to collaborate with my medical colleagues better,” he said. “But we are all trying, and eventually we’ll get there. It would sure make the care of the U.S. population better if we doctors could combine our professional schools and all be one big happy family.”