Oral Health, A Whole-Body Health Indicator
A gray jay is a bold, cheeky little bird that populates our Rocky Mountains and is observed for what it teaches us about the overall health of the region, specifically for our winter temperatures. It is known as an “indicator species” because of its capacity for biomonitoring. What does this have to do with holistic health, you are wondering? I would like to draw an analogy between the gray jay as an indicator species and our oral health as an indicator of our whole-body health. As the eyes are the window to the soul, the mouth is the window to the body and our health generally.
Observing the health of our saliva, teeth, and gums helps us to better understand the health of our bodies. Systemic conditions such as AIDS and diabetes can be detected by mouth lesions or other oral problems. Many things are present in saliva, including cortisol levels indicating stress, environmental toxins, some cancer markers, and certain HIV-specific antibodies. Other ongoing research explores the link between our oral health and conditions such as osteoporosis, arthritis, pneumonia, and preterm labor, as well as inflammatory diseases such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s and diabetes.
It is well-established that people with periodontal disease are twice as likely to have heart disease, which also increases the risk of stroke. One theory is that when gums are inflamed, they release chemicals into the blood stream that regulate infection. Perhaps these chemicals contribute to plaque buildup in our blood vessels.
Whether it is our bodies affecting our mouths or our mouths affecting our bodies, we need to be aware that our health is an interconnected, interdependent, integrated system. In all of these cases, being mindful of our oral health can help us be mindful of our whole health. Our mouths are early warning systems, like a gray jay, providing sensitive biomonitoring for our bodies ‘ environment. If you experience any anxiety about going to your dentist, perhaps think about him like a bird watcher, scouting out that cheeky little gray jay with his binoculars.