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Exercise and diet are important components for maintaining optimum health, but not many individuals realize that maintaining proper oral hygiene is also a vital part of the equation.
"It has been my observation that people who keep their teeth live an average of 10 years longer than people who lose them," said Dr. Charles Mayo, founder of the renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. One of the exciting advances in dentistry has been an increased understanding of the impact of oral health on the rest of the body. Dentistry has entered a new era of protecting and enhancing people’s lives.
"The body is truly connected in ways we are just now beginning to understand. There is no question that the key to good health is in understanding the connection and relationships between the mouth and the rest of the body," said Dr. Paul S. Taxin, DMD of Hopewell Junction. "Things as varied as migraine headaches to colon cancer can be aided by optimal health of the mouth. It is time to stop ignoring the importance of good oral health. Even if none of the systematic implications were there, we would be helping people to save their teeth."
Taxin is a graduate of the Las Vegas Institute. He is a member of the Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, Academy of Laser Dentistry, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry, Member of Docs (Sleep Dentistry) and a member of the American Dental Association. He also works with a Neuromuscular/Aesthetic study club.
Dr. Taxin is working to "build a bridge between the medical and dental communities" for the benefit of patients. The emerging "Oral-Systematic Connection" helps doctors to avoid the problems associated with the failure to diagnose and treat important medical diseases related to the presence of chronic oral infections.
The mouth is the gateway to the body and we rely on it daily for nutrition, life support and communication. Veterinarians will look first into the mouth of a horse to assess the overall health of the animal. A tooth infection or abscess can affect other parts of the body. Those with heart conditions, or who are about to have heart surgery are treated first with antibiotics before any dentistry is done, so that the bacteria from the mouth does not travel through the bloodstream to damage the heart. The bloodstream is a two-way street, a new factor emerging significant to total health.
Richard G. Samaha, MD, describes how the mouth and body are inter-related. "Because it is part of the digestive system and the gateway to the body, the mouth is filled with over 500 different micro-organisms, more than any other part of the body except for the intestine."
Most are useful, but some, especially the anaerobic bacteria that avoid air and live in deep crevices, can cause harm if allowed to penetrate the gums and enter the bloodstream. "That little bit of bleeding that comes with brushing your teeth and bad breath in the morning, can be a sign that you are under attack by harmful bacteria." While pink gums are a sign of good health, red puffy gums are a sign of inflammation, linked to a host of serious diseases. Often, periodontal disease is present even when the gums appear healthy on the outside. Professional dental evaluation is necessary to determine the presence or absence of periodontal disease.
Dr. Taxin practices an aggressive state-of-the-art approach in the region’s only Center for Dental Medicine, treating chronic oral inflammatory
diseases known to increase risk factors for medical problems. He has created strong alliances and works closely with many physicians in the regional medical
community to help them elevate their care of patients.
The current medical/legal, standards of care have shifted to mandate multi-disciplinary management of compromising medical conditions. "Given the
impact of the systemic changes tied to the mouth, we are actually able to save lives," he said.
Dr. Taxin said there are many recent studies that show "the links between gum disease and problems with your body, including high blood pressure,
stroke and diabetes." Some types of cancer have also been linked to gum problems in the mouth. "If there’s inflammation in your mouth, then there’s probably
inflammation in your body."
Dr. Taxin said Dr. Mayo "was way before his time" in commenting about the connection between oral health and longevity, about 80 years before medical and dental studies were released on the subject. "We do diabetes screening in this office." He will send patients for additional testing,  if needed. His
office conducts bacterial testing on a patient’s gums "every so often if we have a resistant gum infection and to get it under control."
He said there have been many studies completed that show if your gums are healthier and you’re a diabetic, it’s a lot easier to keep one’s sugar under control. There are also studies involving pregnant women and the link with pre-term low birthweight babies and gum disease. "Medical companies have started to pay for extra cleanings for pregnant women." He emphasized, "that’s not dental insurance, that’s medical insurance" paying for the extra teeth cleanings. Medical insurance is also starting to pay for extra oral cleanings for diabetics, including Aetna and Cigna.
Dr. Taxin said, "when they (insurance companies) start going that way, other carriers will start to follow, because they recognize that it’s better to keep a patient healthy, which ultimately keeps their costs down."
Keeping the teeth clean and reducing bacteria "can make a huge difference." He also said it’s important to be screened for oral cancer, which can be lifethreatening.
Dr. Taxin said his dental practice informs his patients’ doctors if there is a serious form of gum disease. "We will stay in touch with people’s physicians" to alert them. He said there aren’t that many dental practices that do this type of referral.
Previously, periodontal disease was considered to be an oral problem only, but in the last few years research has shown that it increases the risk for a number of serious diseases including heart attack, stroke, diabetes and negative pregnancy outcomes.
Some of the signs and symptoms include: pain in your mouth, gums bleed when you brush your teeth or eat hard food, spaces developing between your
teeth, gums feel swollen or tender, gums are receding or your teeth appear longer than before, persistent bad breath, pus between your teeth and gums, change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite and sores that develop in your mouth.
The goal is to keep people healthy and to communicate warning signs. "It’s not that we would treat high blood pressure on our own," said Dr. Taxin. "We would refer that to the physician. We can be very helpful for people  to live a longer, healthier life. It’s more than just teeth."
Dr. John Reed, a family physician with New Windsor Family Medicine said his office has a referral on an average of once a month. "We certainly get
referrals from dentists. The diagnosis can be something other than oral." Sometimes it could be thrush in the mouth, caused by a fungus with the formation of
milky-white lesions on the mouth, lips and throat. There could be a possible yeast infection, a deficient immune system, or maybe diabetes."
In some cases, a person with bulemia may develop oral complications and then would be referred to a primary care physician. Acid reflux can cause
odor or dental problems as well.
Dr. Reed said there have been occasions when "a patient complains of a tooth ache in the upper part of the mouth and the pain turns out to be a sinus
infection." That patient would be referred to a physician.
He said some routine patient medical exams have revealed "terrible dental hygiene, which can lead to infections throughout the body." Dr. Reed said don’t ignore symptoms. "When in doubt, check it out."
Dr. Taxin said the general feeling is that people think that their teeth are just their teeth. "They’re really not connected to the rest of their body." But he emphasized the importance of dental and medical professionals working together to deliver quality health care. "Not only to help people smile and feel better about themselves, but to help people feel better and live a longer quality of life."
As a member of the Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, Taxin is also versed in Obstructive Sleep apnea (OSA), a potentially life threatening condition that is more common than generally recognized. Over 20 million Americans suffer from OSA and don’t even know it.
An apnea is when breathing stops for 10 seconds or more while you are sleeping. Coughing or choking sensations, which force you to wake up or "get
elbowed” by your sleeping partner, are common signs of OSA.
These abrupt disturbances during sleep place significant strain on your heart and cardiovascular system. Snoring is often associated with OSA,
although not everyone who snores has this condition. OSA prevents air from reaching the lungs even though your body continues its effort to breathe. This condition is associated with higher risk for heart attacks and strokes .
Untreated sleep apnea can cause or worsen: high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, risk for heart attack, risk for stroke, pulmonary hypertension, weight gain, migraine headaches, memory problems, motor vehicle crashes, impotency and sexual dysfunction, depression, anxiety and job impairment. Treatment options include oral appliances therapy, a CPAP medical device that delivers air pressure through a facemask or nasal tube attached to a pump, or surgery.
For more information about dental or sleep apnea concerns, contact:
Dr. Paul S. Taxin, DMD,
Hopewell Professional Building,
2 Jay Lane
Hopewell Junction, N.Y. 12533
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