294: Oral Health “Mouth Mapping” - Jonathan Levine

With long-term health, the mouth is often overlooked. For most people, the dentist is someone only seen for a cleaning or to fix a problem like a cavity or crown. 

However, according to Dr. Jonathan B. Levine, a world-renowned oral health expert, we are undergoing a massive paradigm shift. It is time to stop seeing the mouth as separate and recognize it as a critical data center for your entire body's well-being. This new approach, which Dr. Levine's practice calls "mouth mapping," is poised to change how we manage everything from heart disease to sleep.

The Biological Connection: Mouth Mapping for Longevity

For decades, dentistry and medicine have operated in "siloed" worlds, but Dr. Levine explains that this separation is political, not biological. He stresses that "the mouth is connected to the rest of the body". The mouth is the second-biggest microbiome after the gut, containing over 600 species. 

When it is unhealthy, foundational research shows that pathogenic bacteria can cause “leaky gums, like leaky gut,” giving harmful bacteria a direct route into the bloodstream. Research has found bacteria associated with oral disease in the inner walls of the carotid artery in people with cardiovascular disease. 

The connection, he says, is undeniable, linking oral health as a causal factor or risk factor for diseases including diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and pancreatic cancer. 

The statistics are staggering: 70% of the adult population has some type of inflammation in the mouth, and North of 55% suffers from periodontal disease (chronic inflammation). Studies show that as periodontal disease increases, rheumatoid arthritis also increases, and P. gingivalis has been found in the amyloid plaque of Alzheimer's patients.

Mouth Mapping Diagnostics

If your mouth is a window to health, "mouth mapping" is the diagnostic toolkit used to look through it. This integrative approach goes  beyond just looking for cavities. Dr. Levine’s practice, Smile House, uses a "digital workflow" to create a complete profile of your oral and systemic health. This "mouth mapping" can include:

• Saliva pH Testing: A simple, first-line indicator, as "the bad bugs thrive in a low pH environment".

• Salivary Diagnostics: Saliva is sent for analysis to get a readout profile of 200 bacteria in about 10 days, educating patients on the specific pathogenic bacteria they possess and the risks they pose.

• CBCT (Cone Beam CAT Scans): This 3D scan analyzes anatomy from the “Top of the nose to the airway,” showing how well the airway is functioning and if it is anatomically small.

• Blood Prick Testing: This new model of dentistry even includes checking "inflammatory markers in your blood," such as C-reactive protein.

The Oral Physician

This rich diagnostic data is shared with the entire health team. Dr. Levine is pioneering the concept of the "oral physician". Because patients typically see their dentist more regularly than their primary care physician, the dentist is uniquely positioned as the "tip of the spear" for addressing chronic inflammatory diseases early. 

This allows care providers to "go upstream" and build a "wellness model". For instance, using a CBCT scan, an "oral physician" can immediately spot issues like a deviated septum that causes mouth breathing and prevents "deep regenerative sleep," leading to an immediate referral to an ENT specialist.

A New Pillar of Longevity

For years, longevity experts cited motion, nutrition, and stress management as the pillars of health. Dr. Levine argues it is time to add the pillar of oral health. Understanding how important a healthy mouth is "will lead to longevity". 

This collaborative, integrated model marks the future of healthcare, moving away from the "sickness model" and toward true wellness. This innovation means that "If you're in an innovative dental office, you shouldn't be able to recognize it... Today, it's a new day".

In this podcast you will learn…

• Why the mouth is considered a critical data center for the entire body's well-being.

• How pathogenic bacteria from “leaky gums” can enter the circulatory system and contribute to conditions like cardiovascular disease.

• That inflammation in the mouth is linked to diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, pancreatic cancer, and Alzheimer's.

• The function of specialized diagnostics used in mouth mapping, including Salivary Diagnostics and 3D CBCT scans.

• Why the dentist, acting as the "oral physician," is considered the "tip of the spear" for catching chronic inflammatory diseases early.

• Why Dr. Levine argues that oral health must be added as a fourth pillar of longevity alongside motion, nutrition, and stress management.

 

EPISODE RESOURCES:

• Dr. Levine offers $100 off your first visit to Smile House or JBL NYC. Just mention BIOptimizers or Awesome Health Podcast when booking your appointment at smilehouse.co

• Not in the city? Dr. Levine has curated a comprehensive Home Care Guide just for you. Visit @SmileHouseTribeca on Instagram and DM "GUIDE" to receive your free guide!

• Other accounts to Collaborate on Social: @drjonlevine, @smilehousetribeca, @jblnewyorkcity