MIDDLETOWN – Patricia Bogue matter-of-factly says she's in excellent health for her 85 years. "I eat well, I sleep well and nothing hurts," said Bogue, a Michigan resident visiting family in Holmdel for a year. She certainly wasn't going to let the extended visit keep her from regular dental care. But she was more circumspect about the link between her scrupulous dental care and her overall good health.
"It all goes together, I suppose," she said as she waited for her appointment at Newman Springs Dental Care in Middletown.
MORE: Obamacare pays for dental clinic for uninsured
But local dentists say it's more than a supposition: Good dental health is not just about having pearly whites. It also reflects on our overall health.
MORE: Cosmetic dentistry can improve smiles, health
"The oral cavity is a mirror to general health, and examination of oral cavity could provide clues to systemic health," said Dr. Mahnaz Fatahzadeh, a professor of oral medicine at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine.
Dentists do thorough examinations of both the hard and soft tissue in the mouth as a part of the dental care. And when something is out of place, they can refer patients to primary care doctors or other specialists.
"It all goes together, I suppose," she said as she waited for her appointment at Newman Springs Dental Care in Middletown.
MORE: Obamacare pays for dental clinic for uninsured
But local dentists say it's more than a supposition: Good dental health is not just about having pearly whites. It also reflects on our overall health.
MORE: Cosmetic dentistry can improve smiles, health
"The oral cavity is a mirror to general health, and examination of oral cavity could provide clues to systemic health," said Dr. Mahnaz Fatahzadeh, a professor of oral medicine at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine.
Dentists do thorough examinations of both the hard and soft tissue in the mouth as a part of the dental care. And when something is out of place, they can refer patients to primary care doctors or other specialists.