It’s a no-brainer that gut health is important. The gastrointestinal system is the body’s way of taking in and distributing the nutrients it needs for survival. This “nutrient highway” consists of important organs like the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and intestines. But, notice that this picture of the digestive tract starts at the mouth. That’s because digestion begins in your mouth! Because of this close connection between gut and mouth, your oral health can impact your gut health, and vice versa.
Besides providing the body with the nutrients and water it needs, your digestive system is the communication center for the brain, and the body’s core disease-fighting system. This means that gut health is quite essential to overall health, and oral health is the gateway to it all.
Due to complexity and the central location in the body, disease in the digestive tract can be very difficult to detect and diagnose. The link between mouth and body can be a key factor in early diagnosis of chronic digestive disease.
Gingivitis or bleeding gums is often the first sign of oral inflammation. But these symptoms can also be an early indicator of an issue further down the digestive tract. When the immune system is inflamed, it overreacts. If you are looking to improve your gut health, it is important to look first in the mouth.