You may have heard of the mind-body connection, but what about the mouth-body connection? To many people, a dental visit is about getting their teeth cleaned, having a tooth pulled or having a filling placed. However, a dental visit is not just about teeth. It is also about your overall health. What goes on in your mouth can affect the rest of your body, and what goes on in the rest of your body can have an effect on your mouth. Many diseases and conditions can affect your oral health. For example, people with weakened immune systems may be more likely to get fungal and viral infections in the mouth. The immune system (the system that protects the body from illness and infection) can be weakened by disease or as a side effect of cancer chemotherapy drugs or by drugs that are taken to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs or bone marrow. Medications taken for other conditions also can affect the health of your mouth. For example, many drugs cause dry mouth, which can increase your risk of dental decay, oral yeast infections and other oral infections. The state of your mouth often can provide information about your overall health. Your dentist can be instrumental in helping to diagnose many diseases and conditions that have oral effects and refer you to the proper specialist for treatment. He or she also can make sure you get specialized oral and dental care if you have a chronic condition that requires it and, when necessary, refer you to an expert in oral medicine. During your dental exam, your dentist might see something in your mouth that is a sign or symptom of an illness or disease that you might not even know you have. You can then be referred to a specialist for treatment. Your dentist also can make sure you get specialized oral and dental care if you have a chronic condition that requires it. If necessary, he or she can refer you to an expert in oral medicine. Your oral health also can affect other medical conditions. For example, if you are diabetic, an infection in your mouth can disrupt your blood-sugar levels and make your diabetes harder to control. Researchers also are exploring the role of periodontal (gum) disease as a potential risk factor for various medical conditions, including heart disease. | 
