Peak body says your mouth can provide a 'snapshot' of overall health | Region Illawarra
Dr Mohit Tolani is urging the community to prioritise their dental health before it becomes a bigger issue. Photo: Keeli Dyson. The Illawarra community is being urged to prioritise regular dental checkups. . .
Dr Mohit Tolani is urging the community to prioritise their dental health before it becomes a bigger issue. Photo: Keeli Dyson. The Illawarra community is being urged to prioritise regular dental checkups before something as simple as a toothache becomes an issue that could impact the whole body. Australian Dental Association NSW representative and Illawarra dentist Dr Mohit Tolani says mouth health is an indicator of your overall health. “Your mouth, which is a small area of your body, is giving you a snapshot of what else is happening in the rest of your body – which is basically your mind, your gut, your overall health and your metabolism,” he said. “It’s not just about teeth; it’s about teeth, gums, and there’s a lot of underlying medical conditions that we can pick up as well through dental health. ”He said gum disease was directly connected with diabetes, with recent studies also suggesting it was linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Halitosis, or bad breath, could also be a sign of deeper gut issues. But despite the impact that poor oral health can have on the entire body, many people are still neglecting it and forgoing regular checkups. “Not all problems come with pain,” Dr Tolani said. “Pain is literally often the second last to the last stage of where the problem is, so if we can catch it before the pain stage and we can address it early on it’s better. “There’s multiple reasons to why people delay it and one of them is that life gets in the way. “It could be the fact that professionally they’re overcommitted or personally their focus is on family issues. “They don’t realise the importance of it. ”Others trade in professional guidance for quick fixes at home, which can come with their own complications, Dr Tolani said. “Quick fixes at home could have issues because it may not generate good long-term outcomes,” he said. Cosmetic fixes are also being increasingly sought after, with new research by the ADA finding that 60 per cent of young people aged 18 to 25 have been influenced to seek treatment due to social media, without a full understanding of the implications. “With respect to social media influencers and information that’s been put out there, we need to have a better understanding as to how your individual customised dental health is, and the best answer to that can be obtained by a dentist,” Dr Tolani said. “Everyone’s mouth is different and whilst you’re aiming for a Hollywood smile, everyone’s mouth is a bit different, it functions differently. ”But the best way to take care of your pearly whites could be the most obvious. “The best home care you can have is a toothbrush and toothpaste,” Dr Tolani said. “A pea size amount, normal toothbrush – soft bristle to medium bristle – gently brushing half of the gums, half on the teeth in a circular motion, two minutes at morning and at night with flossing in between. “You’re looking after your gums, you’re looking after teeth, that’s a good starting point. ”This Dental Health Week (3 to 9 August) is also the perfect time to call up and book in with your dentist. With the Child Dental Benefits Scheme helping reduce the financial burden for many families, getting children familiar with the routine now could help promote a lifetime of healthy teeth. “I think if you start early you can instill habits quite confidently,” Dr Tolani said. For more information or to find a dentist visitTeeth. org. au