Oral Health Matters for Overall Wellness
Nearly half of U.S. adults age 30 and older have gum disease, yet many may not realize it can affect far more than their smile. Research increasingly links gum disease and other oral health conditions to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, preterm birth, Alzheimer’s Disease, and certain cancers.
Dental professionals have long understood that oral health is an important part of whole-person health. Today, dental and medical providers are increasingly working together to deliver more coordinated, personalized care.
Collaboration is key with Oral health
Oral health does not exist in isolation. Medical conditions, medications, and lifestyle factors can all affect the health of your teeth and gums.
“The mouth is not separate from the rest of the body,” said Cristina Sanchez, dental director and clinical advisor at Blue Shield of California. “When physicians and dentists collaborate, we’re able to better understand the complete picture of a patient’s health and create care plans that are both clinically effective and realistic for that individual’s life.”
Before joining Blue Shield, Sanchez supported Gainwell Technologies’ Medi-Cal Dental Care Management Program and was an assistant professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and director of its general practice residency program. There, she worked closely with physicians caring for patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancers.
Understanding oral dysbiosis
One reason gum health is receiving greater attention is growing research on oral dysbiosis, an imbalance of bacteria in the mouth.
The mouth contains billions of bacteria, many of which help maintain a healthy environment. When that balance is disrupted, harmful bacteria can increase, raising the risk of gum disease, cavities, and other oral health issues.
While the term oral dysbiosis may be relatively new, the concept is not. Dental professionals have long recognized that controlling harmful bacteria is key to maintaining healthy gums and preventing disease.