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https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/11/mouth-gateway-body-fascinating-frightening-links-between-gums-health>
"Isn’t it weird that dentistry and medicine have been kept largely separate?
Why should our mouths be treated differently from the rest of our bodies? Going
to the dentist often feels like more of a lifestyle and cosmetic add-on,
especially for adults in the UK. And, even if you can find an NHS dentist, the
service is not free at the point of use like medical doctors are.
The origin story for this rift is that dentistry began, in the middle ages, as
a trade – with tooth extractions handled by “barber surgeons” and dentures
crafted by jewellers and blacksmiths. Today, dentistry and medicine still have
their own separate training routes, professional bodies and NHS setup.
Generally speaking, medical doctors can’t act as dentists, and dentists aren’t
medical doctors. But the tide is turning on this conceptual separation, because
the links between oral health and systemic healthcare are becoming ever more
apparent.
Cardiologists and doctors treating type 2 diabetes, for example, are
increasingly concerned with the state of their patients’ mouths. Specialists in
everything from rheumatoid arthritis to cognitive decline may soon be too, if
recent research is any indication."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
