Dr Lewis Ehrlich

Dental Surgeon @sydneyholisticdental • Host of the podcast: Mouthing Off with Dr Lewis Ehrlich • Dentist to the Socceroos, Matilda’s • Oxford University

[Dr Lewis Ehrlich @LewisEhrlich]

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammatory marker that can be tested for in a blood test. It can indicate high inflammation in the body. CRP is usually higher in those with chronic gum disease.
Treatment of gum disease through deep, thorough professional cleaning has been shown in studies to lower CRP. This shows that those with high CRP should have their gums checked and treated. It also shows the link between gum disease and systemic inflammation. If you are looking to minimise inflammatory markers for yourself or your patients you shouldn’t overlook gum health.

[Dr Lewis Ehrlich @LewisEhrlich]

Specific strains of bacteria involved in gum disease have been linked to a significantly increased risk of head and neck cancer, specifically head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, keeping your gums healthy is not only good for your gums, it will also minimise your risk of oral cancer.

[Dr Lewis Ehrlich @LewisEhrlich]

A patient that is a child might say “I’m four…and a half”. They don’t want anyone to think they are only four. They have traveled so far in those few months and are hugely conscious of the dramatic metamorphosis they might undergo in the course of a few days and nights. If an adult was to say “I’m forty and three-quarters” it would sound a touch mad - because without particularly noticing, we’ve drifted away from the notion that adults, too, are capable of intense and rapid evolution.

[Dr Lewis Ehrlich @LewisEhrlich]

Vitamin C is important for minimising your risk of tooth decay by having an inhibitory effect on the bacteria that cause decay. It also minimises your risk of gum disease via its antioxidant mechanism and role in collagen production. However, be aware that Vitamin C tablets and powders can contribute to tooth erosion. The way around this is to consume a diet rich in vitamin C and where needed a liposomal Vitamin C liquid which is sprayed into the cheeks or underneath the tongue may offer high absorption whilst not damaging the teeth.

[Dr Lewis Ehrlich @LewisEhrlich]

The surface area of the gums is about the size of an adult hand. If you had a red, inflamed, bleeding sore on your leg that size you’d be in a state of panic and wanting to get on top of the problem immediately. But, because the gums are hidden behind the lips many people turn a blind eye. Gum disease is one of the most common diseases in the world and is linked to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimers, rheumatoid arthritis etc. Keeping your gums in impeccable condition is a health non-negotiable.

[Dr Lewis Ehrlich @LewisEhrlich]

Undiagnosed sleep apnea is common and can shorten your life. A good screening tool is the STOP-BANG questionnaire:
Snoring - Do you snore?
Tired - Do you feel tired/sleepy in the day?
Observed - has anyone witnessed you stop breathing or gasping?
Pressure - are you treated for high blood pressure?
BMI - what is your body mass index?
Age - over 50? (Although sleep apnea is common in young people too)
Neck - Is your neck size larger than 43cm if male or 41cm if female?
Gender - male? (More common in males but females are also susceptible).

[Dr Lewis Ehrlich @LewisEhrlich]

The best part of being a health professional is the lessons you learn from your patients. Society fixates on the external, surface-level material things in life but unless you are loved and have your health - encompassing balance in the mind, body and soul you really have nothing. Sit in front of a sick patient and hear them pour their heart out to you. You won’t hear a thing about who they know, how much fake power they wield, what they own, and what social ladder they want to climb. They will tell you that they live in the present, freely give and receive love from those they care about, and want to understand themselves deeply. We are here to love, and for good health this is where we should divert our energy.

[Dr Lewis Ehrlich @LewisEhrlich]

Tooth decay is a transmissible disease. The bacteria that cause the disease can be passed onto children from mother, father, caregivers and classmates. To minimise your child’s risk of tooth decay and invasive dental treatment it is important that parents, caregivers and classmates maintain impeccable oral hygiene, visit a dental clinic regularly, eat natural whole foods, stay hydrated, breathe through the nose not mouth etc. We are more bacteria than human and our health and habits impact the next generations.

[Dr Lewis Ehrlich @LewisEhrlich]

The normalisation of alcohol is one of the biggest threats to health. Moderate to heavy alcohol consumption is associated with higher risks of certain head and neck cancers. Moderate drinkers (1-2 a day) have 1.8-fold higher risks of oral cavity and throat cancers and 1.4-fold higher risks of larynx (voice box) cancers than non-drinkers. Heavy drinkers have 5-fold higher risks of oral cavity and pharynx cancers and 2.6-fold higher risks of larynx cancers. Alcohol also significantly speeds up the aging process.

[Dr Lewis Ehrlich @LewisEhrlich]

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the tongue falls into the throat or throat muscles relax and block the flow of air into the lungs.
Symptoms of OSA include: snoring, episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep which would be reported by another person, gasping for air during sleep, waking with a dry mouth, morning headache, difficulty staying asleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, difficulty paying attention while awake, irritability.

[Dr Lewis Ehrlich @LewisEhrlich]

3.5 BILLION people suffer from oral diseases. Oral diseases are by far the most common health problem globally. For comparison, 967 million people have mental disorders, 522m have cardiovascular disease, 458 million have diabetes, and 86 million have cancer.
The mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body. If almost half the world’s population have oral diseases, so many are at a huge disadvantage in achieving optimal health.

[Dr Lewis Ehrlich @LewisEhrlich]

The longer we maintain our ability to chew, the better our brains will function, minimising our risk of dementia and cognitive decline.
Studies have shown grey matter volume and resting-state functional connectivity in the pre-frontal cortex to be positively related to chewing performance. There is also increased blood flow to areas of the brain associated with various cognitive functions, including episodic memory, verbal fluency, psychomotor performance and word recall.

[Dr Lewis Ehrlich @LewisEhrlich]

When we look into and around the mouth of a young child we like to see some of the following:
- space between the “baby teeth”.
- no tooth decay and gum inflammation.
- tonsils that aren’t enlarged.
- no dry lips.
- no signs of enlarged tonsils.
- a tongue and lip that is free to move and not “tied”.
- no “bags” under the eyes.
- no “tongue thrusting” between the front teeth when the child swallows.
- no history of snoring/poor breathing or aggressive grinding when asleep.
- no signs of poor mineral content with the forming teeth.
- no missing teeth that should be there

[Dr Lewis Ehrlich @LewisEhrlich]

Vitamin D is crucial for oral health.
If you have Vitamin D deficiency you are more susceptible to:
1. Tooth decay.
2. Gum disease.
3. Teeth that are ‘chalky’. Children’s tooth formation is influenced by maternal vitamin D levels.
4. Fractured teeth.

[Dr Lewis Ehrlich @LewisEhrlich]

Positive relationships. Introspection.
Love. Purpose. Community. Prioritise sleep. Whole-foods. Nasal breathing. Morning/afternoon sunlight. Minimise blue light. Time in nature. Meditation. Movement. Mobility. Low tox products.
Brush/floss. Curiosity. A great healthcare team.

[Dr Lewis Ehrlich @LewisEhrlich]

Delays in diagnosis of Celiac disease lead to nutritional deficiencies, reproductive disorders and a risk of developing other autoimmune conditions. Tooth enamel defects are present in 50% of celiac patients, and recurrent ulcers in 25%. These signs warrant further investigation.

[Dr Lewis Ehrlich @LewisEhrlich]

A Harvard study found that close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout life. They protect against life's discontents, delay mental and physical decline, and are better predictors of long, healthy, happy lives. More than IQ, wealth and genes

[Dr Lewis Ehrlich @LewisEhrlich]

Iron deficiency in kids increases the risk of tooth decay. Iron has a protective effect due to the affinity of iron to enamel and its ability to replace minerals lost during demineralisation. Adequate iron also improves saliva quantity and pH, providing the teeth protection.