Your oral health is important; it might be more important than you even realize. It’s probable that you’ve heard the expression “the eyes are the window to the soul.” While it might be slightly (or a lot) cheesy, there’s also a level of truth to it which is likely why it’s such a popular phrase. Similarly, in the dental world we like to say that “the mouth is the gateway to your gut.” While this one is pretty obvious, what you might not realize is just how your oral health can impact your overall physical health. What’s the Connection? There has long been an indication that a connection exists between overall health and oral health. Dentists, simply by looking at your teeth, can sometimes identify warning signs of underlying health problem. Similarly, primary care doctors know that various health issues like diabetes can impact oral health, and therefore can help create awareness for patients. Connected Health Issues The mouth, which has a variety of bacteria, is also the entry point for both your respiratory and digestive tracts. While most of the bacteria in your mouth is harmless, there remains a connection between the bacteria, the inflammation those bacteria cause, and...

We’ve explored one dental specialty, endodontics, and here we venture into the world of periodontology. Periodontists specialize in the treatment of the structures (primarily the gums and gum tissue) that support your teeth. They also specialize and study the diseases and conditions that might affect these structures. Periodontists, in addition to completing four years of dental school, also complete three additional years of clinical training in periodontology. Severe gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and periodontists are the specialists who can help, making them an important part in some dental journeys and integral to maintaining good oral health. While general dentists are able to handle early onset of gum disease some cases require a more specialized eye. If you ever need to seek treatment for gum health, a periodontist will work directly with your dentist to establish the best treatment plan. Why Do You Need to See a Periodontist? Have you noticed in your dental appointments that your dentist will check your teeth and start assigning numbers that are recorded in your chart? The odds are pretty good that this has happened and you might be wondering what exactly they’re doing. The short and simple...