Knowledge is power. Power for behavioural change, power for better health. When I look into my patients’ mouths, I realise there is so much people don’t know…
Oral health is overlooked. Historically, dentistry has been a “fix the problem” service, with little time and little value placed on education and prevention. And yet, the vast majority of the disease we treat is preventable. Moreover, it is not just the dental profession, but the education system that misses out on the message of health. Schools are not teaching our children to be healthy, with sweets for snacks and processed foods presented. We have created a culture of snacking, compounded with poor food choices and a void in communication as to how lifestyle connects to our bodies, how health connects to our mouths.
Looking into my patient’s mouth, there is so much I want to say. To motivate them, to enlighten them, to empower them. Because dental disease is debilitating…and it doesn’t have to be this way. We, as dental professionals, have an opportunity; to connect to our patients and have conversations that count.
People need to know that their mouths are the gateway to their health. The statistics for dental disease in children are stark, and they deserve better. As a mother, I see the challenges of mixed health messaging and as a profession, we can help people and parents navigate through this noise. It’s time to pick out the facts from the fads, the experts from the influencers and make mouths matter.
Which is why I launched my podcast, “Straight to the Mouth”. Giving the real experts a voice, creating accessible conversations that connect professionals and patients, putting the mouth on the map to health. A tool to support the profession that is universally pushed for time and offer an insight into aspects of health that will engage patients and professionals alike.
Professor Iain Chapple MBE, professor of periodontology, eloquently articulates the importance of the mouth-body connection in my first episode. By breaking down the science, he is breaking down barriers to achieving better oral health. Iain has the ability to educate without arrogance, explaining the condition of periodontitis, unpicking what inflammation is, exploring the mouth as an organ and why it is critical to full body health. He offers implementable advice and will broaden even the perspective of a dentist. He might even get you squatting when you brush your teeth…
When I talk about nutrition to my patients, I often notice their mouth is not considered. Healthy eating often completely bypasses the mouth and focuses straight on the gut. In my third episode, I explore nutrition starting in the mouth as a foundation to health, with nutritional therapist, Nicola Moore, whose enthusiastic, down-to-earth approach is contagious. She sharpens the focus on nutrition, through an oral health lens and explores how we can reframe snacking and make positive dietary swaps. Diet can be a difficult conversation to address in the dental setting, and can be a sensitive subject. Nicola outlines some simple strategies, taking it back to basics, that could improve our patients’ dietary patterns, whilst empowering us professionals to impart some achievable advice. The more knowledge and education we have as the dental team, the more confident and happier we will feel to speak to our patients and engage them in their health journey towards better oral and overall health. This is a conversation to help our patients; an avenue into a difficult discussion. A conversation to share, to encourage awareness without preaching. A conversation for schools and institutions to take heed, to shift towards a culture that cultivates health.
With my background as a yoga teacher and with wellbeing at the heart of my ethos, drawing our attention to mindfulness as part of our daily professional lives, is another essential conversation. Connecting to our minds and becoming conscious of our patterns of behaviour can translate into personal flourishing, as leadership consultant, Sophie Maclaren, describes in episode 4. As dental professionals, we are faced with a disproportionate amount of negative bias, that we need to counteract. The good news is we can practice positivity and cultivate compassion for our patients as well as ourselves, to help us thrive both personally and in practice.
It is through connection; within ourselves – mouth, mind and body; towards other professionals and experts who support and inspire us; towards our patients to educate and empower them, that we can truly thrive. It is about having conversations that count, cultivating connection. If this resonates, tune in. This podcast is for you.