Teeth and body organs: how are they related?

You might not know it, or believe it, but there’s a symbiotic relationship between your mouth, your wellbeing and your organs.

Teeth and emotions

The connection between oral health, your organs and psychological wellbeing is so essential that the oral health research and innovation company, DentAid, released an oral health guide.

The short guide was created by several experts spanning multiple fields, including dentistry, chronic disease, psychology and orthodontics, to support people at different life stages.

It characterises ways to maintain optimal oral health and wellbeing as we age and tackle shifting health priorities. Despite our bodies undergoing various changes at different life stages, we often neglect our dental needs and overlook changes in our mouths.

Some of our mouth's warning signs to beware of:

• Bleeding gums
• Swollen gums 
• Smelly breath
• Difficulty reaching interdental locations between teeth 
• Gum or teeth aching
• Spots and darkened shades that appear in a short period

Oral health and wellbeing

The interesting thing is that our oral health is subject to one of the most gruelling tests of stamina. Like the clever guide mentions, “it evolves throughout life, adding factors to its ageing such as personal medical conditions, the presence of systemic disorders, use of medication, and stress”.

If you haven’t ever stopped to think about how your mouth can make you feel better, or worse, about your general health and vice versa, maybe now is a good time to check in with yourself, your dentist and your mouth!

Meridian points and molars

Traditional Chinese Medicine is one of the earliest recorded cultures to integrate alternative medicine and oral health.

The holistic healthcare model is based on the belief that our body is underpinned by a huge network of complex connections, called meridians, that experts believe are present between the body and our organs.

The belief is that several meridian points transfer life energy called Qi (or Chi) throughout the body, and as some of these points run through your jaw, holistic dentistry incorporates the idea that each tooth is connected to an organ.

Teeth and organs connection: what's the theory?

Holistic medicine, or holistic dentistry and Chinese medicine, suggests that each organ is connected to a tooth. The connection between our teeth and the organs is often depicted in tooth meridian charts.

The concept proposes that there can be a connection between dental issues and what's going on internally, potentially as an imbalance in our organs.

Tooth meridian connection

You normally see a periodontal chart in a holistic dentist's office that looks like the image below, but here are some of the key connections between teeth and your body.

• The incisors are related to the kidneys and bladder. 
• The canines are connected to the liver, gallbladder, and eyes. 
• The small and large molars are related to the digestive tract, stomach, and intestines.
• The wisdom teeth are associated with the heart, the nervous system, and overall energy balance.

Teeth and periodontitis affect the body

From a scientific perspective, there is a lot of information on the connection between oral health and the impact on systemic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease.

Studies on periodontitis suggest that the chronic inflammatory conditions of the tooth-supporting structures known as periodontitis can lead to an elevated risk of mortality or morbidity, and aggravate cardiovascular disease risk by approximately a factor of two.

Life stages and oral health

It’s also vital to remember how our body responds to social, environmental and ageing changes.

Something as simple as a shift in diet, stress or age stage can have a knock-on effect on our oral health, and leave us more prone to discolouration and tooth weakening, or delayed healing as our oral mucosa decreases.

As one 2023 research paper states, “oral disorders are not merely localized to the mouth; in a broader sense, they also have a more significant impact on systemic health”.

Whilst oral health issues can lead to a knock-on effect on our overall health, the same can be said in reverse. There are lots of significant events throughout our lives to consider that can affect our periodontal tissue and organ health:

• Pregnancy 
• Menopause 
• Stress or anxiety 
• Habitual damage: smoking and alcohol use 
• Diagnoses and management of chronic illnesses like diabetes

Happy teeth, healthy gums

If you feel ready to align your internal health with optimal oral health, and you want to discuss your teeth straightening potential, visit us for free at an Impress clinic near you.

You’ll receive a thorough orthodontic consultation to tell you if you’re ready for clear aligners. Book your visit today and discover the transformative power of Impress Orthodontics.