Chairside Connection: The connection between nutrition and oral-systemic health

I had the chance to talk with Tracey Jacobs, BSDH, Philips professional educator, and Mia Syn, BS, RDN (registered dietician nutritionist). They agree that dental and nutrition professionals should work together to help patients improve their diets, which in turn helps their overall health.

Tracey offers tips about how to approach patients for this discussion. She and Mia agree how important it is to listen to your patients when you ask them questions. They may be very proud of their diet, having been led to believe their choices are healthy. It's our job to show them how some of their "healthy" choices may not be so healthy, and why.

For instance, lemon water may be good for digestion, but not so good for teeth. And as much as people hear how good fruit is for them, some may not be the best for their teeth. And do patients know the benefits of sugar-free gum for teeth? These are just a few items patients may not be aware of, and there's so much more we can share with them.

Both Mia and Tracey emphasized the importance of a strong oral health care routine. Tracey said Philips offers convenient tools to help people with that routine, such as water flossers and power toothbrushes.

Overall, initiating a conversation and truly listening to what people tell us will guide us in our nutrition conversations. 

Find out what else Tracey and Mia share with me in our latest Chairside Connection video. And visit Philips for more information.

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