The Mouth-Body Connection: Exploring the Link by Investigating Leading Causes of Mortality

This article discusses the leading causes of mortality in America and their relationship to oral health. It then explains how certain conditions are specifically related to the oral cavity, including atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, pancreatic cancer, oral cancer, lung infections, erectile dysfunction, and preterm birth. The article goes on to describe the need to manage risk factors that may lead to these conditions. It also emphasizes the need to provide education to increase awareness of the link between oral and systemic health in the interest of preventing and treating potentially deadly conditions.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Identify statistics from current research on the link between diseases of the mouth and body.
• Identify potential mechanisms that link diseases of the mouth and body.
• Identify the implications of research as it relates to the patient and the medical and dental communities.

About the Author

Jamie Toop, DDS
PDS-supported practice owner
Las Vegas, Nevada