Summer in Mill Valley is one of my favorite times of year. The mornings are misty and calm, the afternoons are golden and buzzing with energy, and the trails up Mount Tam seem just a little more inviting with each passing day. It’s also a season where many of us recommit to our health. We drink more water, move our bodies more often, eat fresh food from the farmer’s market, and try—gently—to restore balance.
But there’s one part of the body that often gets left out of that conversation: the mouth.
As a dentist who has cared for families in this community for years, I see it all the time—folks who are doing everything right in terms of wellness, but haven’t yet made the connection between oral health and full-body health. The truth is, your mouth can be a window into what’s happening throughout the rest of your body.
And this summer, I’d like to invite you to start seeing it that way.
What the Latest Science Says About Your Gums and Heart
It’s not just dentists who are paying attention to the connection between oral health and systemic health. Cardiologists, endocrinologists, and researchers across the country are talking about it too. More and more studies are confirming that inflammation in the mouth—especially gum disease—can contribute to inflammation elsewhere in the body, particularly in the cardiovascular system.
If you have bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, or loose teeth, it might not just be a “mouth issue.” It could be an early indicator of chronic inflammation that affects the heart, brain, and beyond. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, people with gum disease are nearly twice as likely to suffer from heart disease. That’s a statistic worth paying attention to.
And yet, most of the time, we don’t feel anything until the damage is done.
How Inflammation in the Mouth Affects the Whole Body
Here’s how it works: when plaque builds up along the gumline, your immune system kicks in to fight the bacteria. That causes inflammation, which—when left unchecked—becomes chronic. That chronic inflammation doesn’t just stay in your gums. It travels through your bloodstream, affecting blood vessels, insulin pathways, and even the brain.
There’s also growing evidence linking gum disease to:
- Diabetes: inflammation can impair blood sugar control
- Respiratory disease: oral bacteria can be inhaled into the lungs
- Cognitive decline: some studies have found periodontal bacteria in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients
This isn’t about scare tactics—it’s about empowerment. If your gums are irritated or bleeding, your body may be asking for attention. And the good news is, there’s a lot you can do.
Daily Rituals for Mill Valley Living—That Include Your Mouth
Here in Mill Valley, we’re big on rituals—morning hikes, green smoothies, evening meditations. These are the small, repeated acts that give rhythm and meaning to our days. And oral health routines can (and should) be just as grounding.
Here are a few gentle, evidence-backed ways to care for your oral health that align with a holistic lifestyle:
- Brush gently twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush
- Floss daily—consider it a form of self-respect, not a chore
- Stay hydrated, especially with our summer heat coming in
- Eat fresh, fibrous vegetables that support gum health
- Visit your dentist for cleanings and periodontal evaluations (here’s what we offer)
You’d be surprised how much inflammation can be reduced—and even reversed—just by showing up for your mouth the same way you show up for the rest of your wellness.
The Wisdom of Prevention
In my office, we’ve seen patients who came in for what they thought was just routine cleaning but ended up discovering early-stage gum disease. We caught it early. We treated it. And we set them on a new trajectory—not just for their smiles, but for their heart health and overall vitality.
That’s the beauty of dentistry—it’s preventive medicine. And that’s why I feel so strongly about what I do.
You can learn more about periodontal treatment here, but even more importantly, I encourage you to think of your check-ups not as obligations, but as opportunities. Little moments to stay ahead of what your body may be trying to whisper to you.
A Patient Story That Stuck With Me
A few years ago, I had a patient—a woman in her 50s—who came in for a cracked tooth. She exercised regularly, cooked her meals at home, and was deeply committed to taking care of herself. But during her exam, we noticed severe gum inflammation that she hadn’t been aware of.
When we talked through the risks of ignoring it, something shifted in her. She admitted that she’d been putting her own care on the backburner because she was “too busy being healthy for everyone else.”
We made a care plan, and within six months, her gums had completely transformed—and so had her mindset. “I never realized,” she told me, “that my mouth was part of the same body I’ve been trying to heal.”
That line has stayed with me ever since.
Let This Summer Be Different
If you’re already investing in your wellness—great. Keep going. But consider letting your oral health take its rightful place in the conversation. Because inflammation doesn’t care if you’re eating kale and doing yoga—it only cares if you’re addressing it.
So this summer, as you drink your smoothies, hike your trails, and make time for rest, do one more thing:
- Revisit your brushing habits
- Schedule that cleaning you’ve been putting off
- Ask your provider about your gum health
- Look in the mirror and ask: is my smile reflecting how well I’m caring for myself?
The Whole-Body Smile Philosophy
I truly believe that dentistry should be part of your whole-body care. It should feel natural, supportive, and aligned with the rest of your lifestyle—not like a separate, sterile chore.
That’s what we aim for in our practice: to meet you with empathy, expertise, and a shared belief that health is a whole-body journey. Whether you’re nine or ninety, your smile is connected to everything you are.
And just like the redwoods that surround us—quietly alive, beautifully integrated—your body is at its best when every part is working in harmony.
If you’d like to get ahead of potential issues, our team is here to support you every step of the way. (Meet us here)
With warmth and wellness,
Dr. Frances H. Yankie, DDS
