Body–Mouth Connection

Your body is interconnected: Follow these forward-thinking doctors to learn more

Human bodies are perfectly interconnected. Neglecting one part of the body can gradually bring down the whole system.

Our bodies are composed of many separate systems – or so kids have been taught in school for generations. The theory that our respiratory system, digestive system, reproductive system and others each work on their own is still the most echoed narrative.

Yet in truth, every organ and system in our bodies is interconnected. If you neglect one part, sooner or later the others will feel the effects.

Your mouth and body are connected

Oral health has a prominent place within the whole body system. Think of it as a gateway – an interface between your body and the external world.

Keeping your teeth, gums and whole mouth clean and healthy helps the rest of the body stay fit. 

This concept of connected health is not just of relevance to us here at Curaden, but interests many people from all walks of life.

Let’s read what some of the experts say.

1. Dr Steven Lin: There is an undeniable connection between teeth and nutrition

Is good oral health a result of overall fitness, or does it work the other way around?

According to Steven Lin, an Australian functional dentist, a healthy mouth is inseparably linked to a healthy body.

He persuaded thousands of people of this theory with his book, The Dental Diet: The Surprising Link between Your Teeth, Real Food, and Life-Changing Natural Health, which ranked #1 on Amazon and became an international bestseller.

Lin believes there is an undeniable connection between teeth and nutrition, and even links a poor diet to such issues as crooked teeth and other orthodontic-related conditions.

If you are interested in holistic oral health (which you should be!), you can learn more about Lin’s ideas from his book, website and YouTube videos.


2. Giulia Enders: Health is in your gut

Can you feel it in your gut? Giulia Enders certainly can. This young scientist rose to fame after publishing a little book about a big topic: the gut.

In Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ, she argues that the small intestine is just as important to our bodies as the more ‘popular’ organs like the heart or brain, and asserts that it can affect many symptoms – everything from allergies and autoimmune diseases to depression.

Not only is this funny little publication informative and easy to read but it also provides answers to many of the awkward poo-related questions you may have always been too uncomfortable to ask.

Giulia Enders has a wonderful way of finding beauty and reasons to admire even the smallest details about the gut. In addition to reading her book, you can watch her TED talk for more fascinating intestinal insights.

By the way, did you know that your gut and your mouth are (quite literally) inseparable, and that they even share several microbial strains?


3. Catherine Shanahan: Exploring habits of our ancestors

Why do certain parts of the world have a larger proportion of centenarians than others? What secrets lie behind good health in older age? And can the right nutritional choices really result in stronger, healthier and more active babies?

Board-certified family physician and writer Catherine Shanahan sees food and nutrition as not only the way to live a healthy life but also as having the power to reverse diseases.

But not just any food will do. Shanahan explores the eating habits that may have helped keep our ancestors free from serious diseases.

In her most popular book, Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food, Shanahan dives deep into well-known diets such as Mediterranean and Okinawa, and highlights research from genetics, biochemistry, epigenetics and other fields that emphasise food as information that directs our cellular growth.

The book makes the fascinating argument that mirroring the eating habits of our ancestors can help us live longer and healthier lives today.