Health and Smiles

The partner dance between oral and overall health

Aikya Param
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Published in
4 min readMay 13, 2021

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Illustration for the article “Anatomy of a smile” medically reviewed by Ross W. Nash, DDS from Consumer Guide to Dentistry

Smiling has seven benefits according to the BrightSpring Health Services website. They are:

  • Improved Mood. Smiling releases endorphins, which helps a person feel happier and more positive. …
  • Pain Relief. Believe it or not, a good laugh relieves some body aches or pains. …
  • Lower Blood Pressure. …
  • Stronger Immune System. …
  • Stress Reliever. …
  • Better Relationships. …
  • Younger Appearance.

Yet in order to be happy about smiling, we need to care for our teeth. That is challenging if you are afraid to visit the dentist.

Fear of the dentist

The article “Overcoming Dentophobia, Fear of the Dentist,” says that 75% of adults in the United States experience some amount of fear about visiting the dentist. For five percent of those, the fear is intense enough to be considered “dental phobia,” an actual condition in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Due to fear, many people avoid going to the dentist for years.

That could have bad consequences and not just for your teeth. Did you know that poor oral health can lead to other health problems? The Mayo Clinic says that poor oral health might contribute to

  • Endocarditis or infection of the lining of your heart chambers
  • Cardiovascular disease — heart disease, clogged arteries, and stroke may be linked to inflammations and infections from oral bacteria
  • Pregnancy and birth complications — periodontal disease has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight
  • Pneumonia — certain bacteria in your mouth can be pulled into your lungs causing pneumonia or other respiratory conditions.

National healthcare policy omits dental care for adults, includes for children

In spite of this, dental care for adults is not considered an essential health benefit under the Affordable Care Act and is not covered according to the article “Obamacare, Trumpcare and Your Mouth.”…

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Aikya Param
Middle-Pause

Rev. Aikya Param is a minister at Oakland Center for Spiritual Living in Oakland, California, a published author and visual artist.