Your body is a whole ecosystem of its organs, muscles, bones, teeth, ligaments and connective tissue, nerves, microbiome, and cells of all kinds. The number one way that we keep all of that healthy is by food entering via your mouth. That pie hole or oral cavity does a lot from chewing, producing enzymes, and it is the gateway to the rest of the body because it’s the start of the digestion process. You might think about issues in your mouth being sores, tooth pain, cavities, and bad breath, but what you may not realize is the link between your oral health and premature birth, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and even dementia. There are specific microbes and bacteria that are in your mouth that you swallow, get absorbed, and then go up into the brain and create inflammation. If you have gum disease, you’re at a higher risk of a heart attack. If you’ve had any work done in the dentist’s chair, you might have a mercury filling in your mouth that is leaching out into your mouth and body, causing toxicity.
Then there could be bacteria surrounding a tooth, called periodontal disease in teeth that are alive and their nerves intact or worse, in a tooth that does not feel like a root canal. Then there are documented issues with root canals that create a host of health issues that show up all over the body. The mouth is a complicated part of our body that is often overlooked in terms of our overall health, including mental health. We spoke with my dentist back in episodes 90 and 91, which was fascinating to learn about mouth breathing and the health implications, but today we are doing to look into what is called by my guest today oral fitness. So today on EAT THIS with Lianne, tying together oral health, mental health, and your overall health.
Within your mouth, an intricate balance of bacteria exists, forming what is known as the oral microbiome. Just as your gut microbiome influences your overall health, the oral microbiome plays a crucial role in the well-being of your entire body.
When this delicate balance is disrupted, it can lead to inflammation throughout the body, affecting various areas such as joints, the heart, and even the brain. Furthermore, poor oral health weakens the immune system, making you more susceptible to infections and other illnesses.
The connection between oral health and autoimmune diseases is particularly strong, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy mouth.
It may come as a surprise, but the condition of your oral health can also impact your mental well-being. Research has shown that oral health issues, such as gum disease and dental procedures, can contribute to a decline in mental health. This correlation can be attributed to the inflammatory response triggered by oral bacteria, which can have a negative impact on brain function. Understanding and addressing this connection between oral health and mental well-being is crucial for maintaining overall wellness.
Several lifestyle factors can contribute to poor oral health. Unhealthy dietary choices, such as consuming processed foods high in starch and low in fiber, can negatively impact the oral microbiome. Incorporating nutrient-dense foods, including raw vegetables and fiber-rich fruits, can help restore balance and promote oral health. Additionally, certain oral health supplements, such as CoQ10, vitamin C, and vitamin D, can provide support and maintain the integrity of your oral health.
My guest today Dr. Gary Glassman, is a world-renowned oral health expert who champions the link between Oral Fitness™ and overall health. He says that the oral cavity is often treated as being somehow isolated from the rest of the body, and often it’s not prioritized by individuals, policymakers, or even by healthcare practitioners and professionals. He sees a parallel between oral health and mental health, so let’s find out more about that, shall we? Dr. Glassman graduated from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry and then went on to specialize in endodontics. He’s been at this for over 30 years, and in addition to being a partner at Endodontic Specialists in Toronto, he’s also a member of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto and an Adjunct Professor of Dentistry and Director of Endodontic Programming at the University of Technology in Kingston, Jamaica.
What we discussed:
- Tell us what you mean when you talk about oral health and how it link to overall health.
- What health conditions and complications can arise from poor oral health?
- What is the link between oral health and mental health?
- What lifestyle factors lead to issues with oral health?
- What can we do about our oral health from dietary changes and when there’s a block from mental health challenges?
- How do you come about this with your Oral Fitness™ standpoint?
- How can listeners find out more?
Our modern-day diet isn’t helping our oral or overall health. The standard American and Canadian diet is high in starchy fiber foods, those packaged processed foods that make their way into our homes and you grab like crackers, pretzels, chips, even if you’re dipping them in hummus, while a better option, it’s still lacking in fibre and the support that your mouth needs from nutrient-dense foods. Eating raw veggies is like brushing your teeth, and fibre rich fruits and vegetables help to balance that microbiome. Supplements for oral health include CoQ10. Taking in those superfoods from a rainbow of produce on your plate and taking Kid or Skin Boost superfood powder daily along with vitamin C to bowel tolerance, so that’s Alka C Powder from my Take This by Lianne line to help support your gums, ease gum disease and keep your teeth in your head. Vitamin D helps the jaw bone structure and prevents osteoporosis, which can cause weak teeth, so add Sunshine D3 + K2 to your daily protocol for overall health. Bio Boost probiotic can support your gut microbiome depending on what is going on in your mouth too.
For more oral health discussions, head back to Episodes 90 and 91 with Dr. Lawrence Freedman, a functional dentist that I see in Toronto.
About our guest:
An experienced endodontist, a passionate educator and a proud grandfather, Dr. Gary Glassman is a world-renowned oral health expert who champions the link between Oral Fitness™ and overall health.
After graduating from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry, he attended Temple University in Philadelphia where he continued his education, specializing in endodontics. While still in the U.S. he received the prestigious Louis I. Grossman Study Club Award for academic and clinical proficiency, and then moved back to Canada to open his own practice.
Currently a partner at Endodontic Specialists in downtown Toronto, Gary is widely considered to be one of the leading endodontic experts in Canada. He’s been in the business for over 30 years, and in addition to being a partner at Endodontic Specialists in Toronto, he’s also a member of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto and an Adjunct Professor of Dentistry and Director of Endodontic Programming at the University of Technology in Kingston, Jamaica.
He developed a unique and award-winning hybrid Clinical Dental Training course, which has seen hundreds of local and international students graduate from the program since its inception. Gary is the author of numerous publications, and is the Endodontic editor for Oral Health Journal.
Ever passionate about the link between oral and overall health, Gary’s work has taken him all over the globe to educate and serve communities around the world. Always the doting grandfather, when he’s not attending to patients at his busy practice, teaching a course or attending a conference, Gary loves to spend time with his wife Lita, their five grown children and his two beautiful grandchildren.
You can find more information about Dr. Glassman’s courses, media appearances and work by going to https://drgaryglassman.com/ or visiting his Instagram at @dr._garyglassman.
Links to his websites and offerings:
- https://drgaryglassman.com/
- https://www.rootcanals.ca/site/toronto-endodontists/dr-glassman
- https://www.clinicaldentaltraining.com/
And his social media: