Book That Dental Check-up And Clean So Your Whole Body Can Thank You

Teeth are actually tiny organs. Each is directly connected to the brain via the trigeminal nerve. Also known as the fifth cranial nerve, it’s the most complex of the twelve sets of paired cranial nerves. These 24 nerves emerge from the brain relaying information to and from the head and neck, and the senses of vision, hearing, taste and smell.

The trigeminal nerve derives its name from the Latin ‘tri’ (three) and ‘germinus’ (twin) as there are two nerves either side of the brainstem, with three major branches: the ophthalmic, the maxillary and the mandibular nerves. The ophthalmic supplies nerves to the forehead, nose, eyebrow, upper eyelid, ocular muscles, tear gland, and nasal mucus membrane. The maxillary nerve supplies the upper lip, the lower eyelid, upper jaw and the roof of the mouth; and the mandibular nerve innervates the lower lip, the mucous membranes of the lower jaw, the floor of the mouth, and the chin. It’s also the reason we’re able to chew.

Unnerving, isn’t it.

Nobody tells you that as good reason to go to the dentist.

Cavities, abscesses and gum infection can trigger trigeminal neuralgia, which is a chronic pain disorder that causes episodes of intense facial pain. It’s not life-threatening, but extremely life altering when the previously simple acts of smiling, talking, kissing, chewing or brushing your teeth respond with crippling pain.

Typically, it’s long term with medication or surgery to manage it.

Are you about to make that dental appointment now?

How about knowing that 70% of all chronic diseases start in the mouth?

Some heart surgeons are of the opinion that coronary artery plaque is a biofilm much like oral plaque, and the pathogens that have colonised in the mouth make their way to the heart. Not only via pockets in the gum caused by periodontitis, but because we swallow about 140 billion bacteria a day. If your oral microbiome is out of balance because of unhealthy eating habits or lacklustre dental hygiene – and certainly the combination of both – these highly inflammatory and damaging bacteria can easily find its way into the bloodstream.

From there it’s free-for-all.

There’s evidence of oral bacteria being responsible for a plethora of chronic diseases from Alzheimer’s, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid conditions, to depression, anxiety and cognitive decline. Bacteria in the mouth can be aspirated into the lungs, leading to respiratory issues. Allergies, depression, fatigue, certain cancers, and even infertility start with a vulnerable immune system that’s been compromised by the imbalance of an unhealthy mouth.

Biologically, it’s associated with high blood pressure and impaired immune system function.

The human body is complex. Looking after your oral health should be easy – but we make that complex too.

We decide money is an issue, which ultimately seems less of a problem for something we actually want to do. We’ll spend it on things we don’t even remember and people we don’t even care for that much. Often, it’s the shorthand excuse for the fear, or a previously traumatic experience that’s really stopping us. If we mention not going to the dentist because we can’t afford to, it’s generally met with an accepting nod and no further discussion since … well, it’s money.

To say that we’re too scared to go, not only opens the floodgates to our internal concerns and anxieties, it can be offhandedly dismissed by those who not experienced that type of phobia. So we underestimate the importance of our oral health until we’re in excruciating pain. With no option but to make a dental appointment – sometimes under emergency conditions – it’s not unusual for the remedying procedure to cost more than a number of 6-monthly preventative ones.

Not having the time is another common justification.

Too busy to go to the dentist, but with plenty of time for the gym, that daily hour-long walk, the routine beauty treatment, or to mindlessly scroll social media. Maintaining good health is always about priorities, and there’s no point having a hot body and flawless skin if your teeth are falling out and you have coronary disease.

Reassess your schedule.

Affordability, trauma and fear can all be sorted (surprisingly, for some) by the dentist.

Most practices have payment plans. There to specifically alleviate the financial pressure many patients find themselves under, there’s no shame in accepting the help you need.

Dentists and their teams are highly skilled in understanding and dealing with anxiety, trauma and pain. There are options and techniques to make your examination or treatment a comfortable experience.

The absence of pain or discomfort is no reason to not see your dentist. Most disease stems from prolonged, undiscovered impairment rather than some mysteriously spontaneous, huge or dreadful instance. Which is why it’s better to know than to think you know. Caries and periodontitis often don’t hurt until they’re severe. At that point, sometimes the affected teeth can’t be saved, and extraction or root canal surgery may be necessary. With acute gum disease the treatments to manage it can be protracted, complicated, and costly.

When you have a check-up it’s not just your teeth and gums your clinician and hygienist are interested in.

They ask you how you are. They look at your face and complexion, lips, cheeks and tongue; the glands under your chin. They check the way you breathe, and look for minor clues to other health conditions by simply professionally observing the patient in their chair.

A dentist can change your life. It could take just an hour, or over successive visits but your outlook and future will benefit much, much more than keeping those bucks in your pocket and your fear under wraps.

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Note: All content and media on the  Sunbury Dental House website and social media channels are created and published online for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.

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