What Your Teeth Say about Your Health
Yes, I am a dentist, but patients come to my practice with wellness questions that would seem to go far beyond oral health: being fatigued, wanting to lose weight, seeking quality sleep, and wanting to just feel and look better overall. Our teeth are living organisms — ever-changing with their environment, so poor oral health can be an indicator of less-than-ideal overall health.
One of the first questions, I ask — sometimes a loaded question – “What is your diet like?” Many patients report living off sugar, Diet Coke, and processed high-carb foods. No wonder they feel sick. We all know that if you pour sugar into a car gas tank, the car won’t run — our bodies are similar. We need to fuel ourselves with good, clean fuel.
There is much talk in the media about “clean eating.” This is a lifestyle to which I wholeheartedly subscribe. Organic meats, veggies, fruits, and good fats (yes, there is such a thing; go for real butter, avocados, coconut oil) are key to a strong-healthy diet. I have found the most success with my patients who eliminate (or strictly limit) dairy, gluten, sugar, and processed foods. I encourage my patients to rid themselves of these triggers that can cause a host of problems and act as inflammatory agents.
I encourage you to try cleaner living even if just for a month—see how you feel. Summer is great time to try this, with abundant fresh, local foods at the markets (or maybe even in your own garden!). Living in the D.C. area, we have so many great stores, restaurants, even year-round farmers markets. Finding better food—fresh and organic—isn’t as hard as it used to be. More stores, even mainstream grocers, are carrying organic fruits, meats and vegetables.
Once you start eating healthier and taking steps to change your lifestyle, you will find it is rather easy to clean-up your diet. I promise you will feel better, sleep better, look better, and greatly improve your oral and overall health!
Some of the books I recommend patients read to get started on a healthier eating include, Eat the Yolks, by Liz Wolfe; Bulletproof Diet, by Dave Asprey; Wheat Belly, by William Davis MD; Grain Brain and Brain Maker, by David Perlmutter MD. These are easy reads with solid advice on how to eat better. We see more illness (including poor oral health) because of the food we are ingesting.
I also suggest having routine blood work to check for vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and using supplementation with brands like Thorne, Designs for Health, or Pure Encapsulations when needed. Exercise is also key to incorporate into your everyday life.
DC Smiles/Dr. Singer is a proud sponsor of the Miss District of Columbia and Miss Teen District of Columbia pageant, where he has served as a judge and the official dentist for pageant winners. We congratulate Miss District of Columbia, Deshauna Barber on her new title of Miss USA!! To honor her we are offering 30 percent off teeth whitening to Stylebook readers. Please call our office at 703.299.4614 to schedule and use the code “Miss USA” to receive the discount. Check us out on the web at www.dcsmiles.com.
