The Mouth is the Window to Your Health
The saying "the eyes are the window to the soul" should have
ended with "and the mouth is the window to your health". Much
can be told about a person's health just by looking in their
mouth at their gums and tongue. The relationship between oral health and overall health has been medically proven. Sometimes the first sign
of a disease originates in the mouth. Other times infections in the mouth, left untreated, can cause problems in other areas of the body. Poor oral health has been linked to cardiovascular
disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and premature low-weight babies.
Research studies suggest that nutrition can affect periodontal (gum) health. The saying "you are what you eat" applies. Consuming foods that provide the body with empty nutrients will result in both poor
dental health as well as poor overall health. Critical to oral and overall health is a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, lean protein, healthy fats and, most critically, antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds found in plant foods. They protect the human body from disease and degeneration.
So, as we come near to our very special holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas, both times in which we are prone to overindulge in “goodies”, remember your mom’s admonishment to “eat your veggies”. And then, recall Dr. Craft, Jennifer and Kristi saying, “Brush and floss your teeth !!” You will have one less New Year’s Resolution to make!!