The following Mark's Daily Apple article was written by Mark Sisson,

and is narrated by Tina Lehman.

A primal guide to oral health.

With conventional wisdom's take on oral care,

we're left with a pretty superficial understanding of oral health.

What if, for instance, cavities implore more than bad brushing habits?

What if we changed the entire template from one focused on cosmetic and sensory criteria to an understanding

founded on whole health principles.

Answer, we'd be much closer to the truth.

Consider this, a recent study involving over 37,000 dental patients found that patient reported

general health and risk factors were negatively

associated with an overall composite oral health score, with study authors noting their results

supporting a growing body of evidence linking oral and systemic health. As for the particular

health connections, you'd be surprised at the span of influence.

Cardiovascular disease, pneumonia, diabetes, even pregnancy issues.

As we speak, diagnostic tests are even being developed using oral cells and saliva

to detect anything from hormonal imbalances to specific diseases. Clearly, the mouth is where

it's at in more ways than one. Maybe that manic focus on brushing and mouthwash really does fall a little

short, no? As usual, there's more to the picture than were led to believe. Common oral issues and their roots in modern eating.

As a nation convinced that it has health at the forefront, our dental stats are pretty shabby.

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that 91% of adults had cavities.

What's more, almost a third of all adult Americans have teeth that are simply rotting away untreated. Those contending with periodontal

...