The Mouth-Body Connection
Why modern medicine no longer treats the mouth as a separate organ.
For decades, dentistry and medicine developed as separate disciplines. That separation is closing — the mouth is now recognized as an active participant in systemic health.
What the evidence supports
- Periodontal inflammation as a driver of cardiovascular risk
- Diabetes as bidirectionally linked with gum disease
- Oral bacteria identified in tissues far from the mouth, including the heart and brain
What it means practically
Oral care is medical care. A dental exam that ignores blood pressure, medications, and inflammatory markers is an incomplete exam.
General education
Presented with the historical professional background of Dr. Marianna Zadov, DDS. General information only, not individualized dental advice; no clinical care is offered.
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The Oral Microbiome
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