The role dentists play in fact vs fad

Patients have no shortage of information when it comes to their oral health. Social media posts and ads touting the latest trends are everywhere. It can be hard to separate fad from fact. 

Maria Papavergos, BDS, a dentist and yoga teacher, saw the need for more education and decided to launch her podcast, “Straight to the Mouth.” Here, she shares why it is important for dentists to educate their patients and the topics she is tackling in her podcast. 

—Interview by Carrie Pallardy, edited by Bianca Prieto

What made you decide to launch the "Straight to the Mouth?"

I felt that there was a gap in education when it comes to oral health. I feel it's such an important connection to the wider body. Often, it's seen as completely separate or completely overlooked. I felt it was really important to draw attention to the mouth, but also engage with the real experts, the people who have the science, who have the background, who have the evidence, to have those conversations.

Why do you think it is important for dentists to think about ways to provide patient education? 

I think as dentists, we have a unique position in that we see patients regularly. We have that opportunity to speak to our patients and to educate. Not just dentists, but the dental professionals as well. We've got dental therapists, dental hygienists. We are all seeing patients regularly. 

As part of a team, the more knowledge and education that we have and we feel confident in, the happier we'll feel to speak to our patients and engage them in their health journey. 

The more knowledge that we as dental professionals have, the more we can impart to our patients and the more patients will be empowered to value their health and their oral health. 

What are some topics you are hoping to tackle in the coming year as you think about gaps in patient education about oral health?  

I've tried to cover a broad range of health topics, talking to specific experts. My first episode was talking to Professor Iain Chapple, MBE, who is a professor in periodontology. He has the expertise to start that conversation as to how the mouth connects to the body, how we now know that there are links to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's; these well-established connections to other diseases in the body.  

We talk about the breath in my most recent episode and how the breath can shape health, not just in our mouth but also the wider body and airway health, and how that is also integral to health.

We talk about nutrition, another foundation of health that sometimes people perhaps overlook when it comes to the mouth. 

I also have some conversations with an expert on menopause. We touch on the issues and the signs and symptoms of menopause and how it not just impacts the mouth. We also discuss what we should be looking for and what we, as practitioners, perhaps need to be more aware of with that age group of women and how we can support them in that journey.

I also have some interesting conversations about mindfulness. I'm a yoga teacher as well: how we as professionals can incorporate certain ancient wisdom into our professional and personal lives to optimize our professional journey and well-being within the profession.

This conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.

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Dental Bite is curated and written by Carrie Pallardy and edited by Bianca Prieto.