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Every day, new information about the complex interactions of our various body systems, our environment, and the microscopic world in and around us comes to light.

Recently, I read an article by a prominent cardiologist who recommended that every cardiologist ask their male patients about erectile dysfunction (or ED). What does one have to do with the other?

As it turns out, the same process that causes heart disease contributes to male sexual dysfunction. And, it’s the same process that contributes to Alzheimer’s disease and almost all the chronic diseases in men (and women). These diseases, which are called noncommunicable diseases or NCDs, have a similar cause: inflammation.

Inflammation, that’s the common denominator.

Inflammation is the body’s reaction to something it perceives as a danger. Have a splinter in your finger? Have a mosquito bite? The area turns red and hot as the body mobilizes its forces to fight it off. Inflammation is good. It’s our immune system working to protect us.

Yet, the fiery hot inflammatory process itself has consequences, not all of which are positive. The same process that protects us also, in certain conditions, can cause harm.

Inflammation in the presence of high triglycerides in the blood can cause buildup in the arteries and other organs, leading to a hardening of the arteries. This can cause

all kinds of problems, from heart disease to erectile dysfunction. Inflammation has been associated with depression, weight gain, cancer, hair loss, MS, diabetes, arthritis, autism, and infertility. Almost every scourge of our time seems to have inflammation as its cause.

And what’s the most common cause and source of inflammation? The mouth.

Specifically, certain bacteria in the mouth stimulate the body’s self-defense system, resulting in inflammation. We know most of these bacteria. We can identify them and we can help reduce their numbers and lower the risks of developing inflammation-related NCDs.

Yes, the cardiologist should ask about ED. He or she should also ask about the mouth. So should every physician and every specialist who deals with NCDs and their consequences.

At Manhattan Dental Health, we’ve been taking bacteria profiles of our patients for three years. The information obtained gives us a window into the microbiome and can help us help you stay healthy and well. We’re not just talking about your mouth. These bacteria are associated with other diseases and can cause inflammation and reactions throughout the body.

One could actually make the case that everything starts in the mouth.

That brings us to yet another mouth-related activity — breathing.

Yes, breathing allows us to bring into our body the most important fuel of all, oxygen.

And, it allows us to get rid of the most toxic byproduct, carbon dioxide.

Proper breathing allows us to function optimally. Improper breathing can lead to problems that not only contribute to NCDs but to communicable diseases, as well.

In regards to proper breathing, we talk about using our noses to take in and breathe out air. That’s what the nose is for. We’re meant to breathe through our noses for many reasons. The nose filters the air, which protects us from allergens, toxins, and even bacteria. It humidifies the air we breathe and warms it, making our lungs function optimally, allowing it to get oxygen to each and every cell in our body.

Here’s something you might not know: We absorb air in our lungs when we exhale, not inhale.

Why is that so important? When we breathe out through the mouth, we breath out too quickly, not allowing the oxygen to be absorbed optimally.

Proper breathing allows our nasal sinuses to produce an important gas called nitric oxide or NO. This odorless and colorless gas is produced by epithelial cells in the sinuses as well as endothelial cells that line the arteries that carry our blood. Nitric oxide serves many functions, such as opening blood vessels, muscle relaxation, nerve conduction, and host defenses. Yes, nitric oxide helps protect us from bacteria … think sinus infections!

After the hectic holiday season, many of us feel like we need another vacation just to unwind. Luckily, January and February are two of the best months to travel. Flight prices plummet and crowds thin out after the Christmas rush.

If you’re looking to escape the dreary winter weather, there’s no better place to visit this season than Nicaragua, the “Central American country that has it all,” as Condé Nast Traveler puts it. Whether you’re looking to explore the rainforests surrounding the Río San Juan or get lost in the quirky-yet-beautiful architecture of Granada, there’s

to scale its smoking, black gravel surface, and the verdant forests surrounding the peak are a sight to behold. Adventurous travelers can board down the side, reaching ludicrous speeds as they teeter and try not to fall. In fact, it’s almost impossible to travel anywhere in the country without seeing an “I boarded a volcano” t-shirt.

If relaxing on a pearlescent beach is more your speed, take a short boat trip out to the Corn Islands. There, you can amble around the small towns bordering the shockingly blue Pacific, visit a number of laid-back seafood restaurants, get scuba certified for

a fraction of the price anywhere else in the world, or just read your book as you swing in a hammock by the waves.

You can also visit the gorgeous, alabaster Our Lady of Grace Cathedral in “new” Léon. The biggest church in all of Central America, this unique Baroque and neoclassicist structure was built in 1814. Visitors can climb onto its roof (as long as they don’t wear shoes) and bask in the view of surrounding volcanoes (including Cerro Negro).

If you’re planning on heading to Nicaragua, it’s best to do it soon. Neighbor Costa Rica often overflows with tourists, and instead of wading through the crowds there, many travelers are catching on to what Nicaragua has to offer.

-Connecting the Dots PAGE 1

-Whitening Redux

-Cover Continued ... PAGE 2

-The Doctor Is In

-Start the Day Right With This Granola PAGE 3

-Escape to Nicaragua PAGE 4

January 2018

Continued on page 2 ...

635 Madison Ave, 19th FloorNew York, NY 10022 212-928-1000 www.MANHATTANDENTALHEALTH.com

117 Kinderkamack Rd. Suite 200 River Edge, N.J. 07661 201-881-0660 www.MANHATTANDENTALHEALTHNJ.COM

Heart Disease, Alzheimer’s, Proper Breathing, Your Mouth, and ED

NicaraguaEscape to

Connecting the Dots

Inside

2 • www.MANHATTANDENTALHEALTH.com www.MANHATTANDENTALHEALTHNJ.com

212-928-1000 • 3201-881-0660

Ingredients• 1 cup rolled oats

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

• 3 tablespoons maple syrup

• ⅓ cup pistachios, chopped

• ¼ cup coconut flakes

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• ⅓ cup goji berries

GRANOLA

Directions1. Heat a large skillet over low heat.

Add oats in a thin layer and toast for 1–2 minutes. Add coconut oil and salt, then stir. Continue toasting for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. Add maple syrup 1 tablespoon at a time; stir to coat.

3. Once oats are toasted, add pistachios, coconut flakes, and cinnamon. Cook slowly until pistachios and coconut flakes are toasted but not burned, about 5 minutes.

4. Remove from pan and stir in goji berries.

5. Let cool and enjoy as a snack or on top of your yogurt!

Everyone wants white teeth. Everyone knows how it enhances a smile. And everyone knows how important a pleasant smile is.

Now, you may have heard of a miracle whitener that can even whiten veneers and crowns. Beware: it is a detergent. It is not FDA approved for use in the mouth because it doesn’t have to be. Yet it’s still marketed as a cosmetic. That’s nuts, but it’s the law.

Who knows what’s best for you? I do. Just ask. I’ll be glad to let you know if a do-it-yourself remedy is not appropriate and happily recommend one that is.

To your health and wellness,

The Doctor Is In Which Electric Toothbrush is best?

I’m always amazed by what is sold on hygiene aids. Hard toothbrushes and spinning bristles make no sense when you think about what brushing is trying to accomplish — that is, getting off harmful bacteria (plaque) from around and under the gum line.

Soft bristles can get under the gum line, spinning ones cannot.

The only electric brush we recommend is the Sonicare brush by Phillips. The sonic waves penetrate under the gum line and can get between the teeth as well.

As with all such questions, the real answer is best made by an analysis of YOUR specific and individual needs.

Whitening Redux

Michael

Recipe inspired by LoveAndLemons.com.

Michael

Ask The Doctor’s DentistTM

Pistachio Goji Berry

COVER CONTINUED ...

Michael

Our brains are also hard-wired to our noses. Our sense of smell (olfactory system) is a direct link from our noses to our brain. Ever smell something that stimulates a memory? That’s the same reaction that allowed ancient man to smell predators and protect themselves even before they saw or heard something. Smells stimulate neurochemical reactions that affect our fight or flight systems. Smell smoke and your stress levels soar.

What happens when you can’t breathe through your nose? Well, you breathe through your mouth. And, mouth-breathing is bad. Mouth-breathing doesn’t just short-cut the nose, it also presents a clear and present danger to everything because it stimulates inflammation and lowers oxygen perfusion.

Inflammation is caused by mouth-breathing through several mechanisms. First is that it dries out saliva, the body’s natural defense against bacteria. Then, breathing out carbon dioxide through the mouth encourages harmful bacteria to grow. It effects the pH, or acidity, of the mouth. It also effects the environment, which encourages bad bacteria to flourish.

Want to learn more? Here’s a great book.

By now, you can appreciate how complex the interactions in our bodies are. Fire, through inflammation, improper breathing, or toxins should be of concern to you and every member of your health care team.

How are you to make sense of it all?

At Manhattan Dental Health, we try to connect the dots and make sense of these complexities

for you. It means that we’ll ask you questions that might not be typically heard in the dental office. We can only connect the dots if we know what the dots are.

Please share all your medical issues with us and with all your physicians. Cardiologists aren’t the only ones who should ask about ED. ED is just a symptom. And, everyone should be asking about fire in the mouth, as well.

Connecting the dots takes your cooperation and our time. That might be why so many physicians and other health professionals miss this critical health-promoting activity; it takes time!

Uncovering causes is way better than just treating symptoms. Preventing problems is preferable to treating them. These are the principles that Manhattan Dental Health lives by.

Putting out fires in the mouth just makes sense to help keep you healthy and well.