PODCAST: How Oral Health is An Indicator of Your Overall Health
Going forward, each episode will have a transcript and timestamps for different topics to help you save time. Go Long recommends listening to the entire podcast for context, but knows you are all busy people. As a reminder, this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice. Please check with your health professional before embarking on changes to your health and wellness regimen.
For the second episode of the “yet to be named” podcast for Go Long, I’m very excited to have hosted Dr. Jennifer Rubin Frisch. She is a long-time family friend and a dentist who has been practicing family dentistry in New York for almost 30 years.
Bio:
Dr. Rubin received her DDS degree from Buffalo school of dental medicine in 1996. After graduating from school she went on to do a one-year post-residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She has been practicing family dentistry for almost 30 years.
2002 was a big year for Dr. Rubin as she gave birth to triplets and moved to Long Island. During this time, she continued to practice on patients while raising her children. Dr. Rubin gained experience in sedation, implants, Botox for TMJ pain and so much more!
Quick Takeaways
Dr. Rubin: Be proactive about you and your family’s oral health. Developing “at home” habits are critical! By investing now, you’ll save yourself time, money, and most importantly, pain down the road.
Jill: It’s never too late to focus on your oral health. After just 6 months of daily flossing, the look of her gums was noticeably improved according to her dentist! Yes, she’s still flossing.
Major topics covered
Biggest trend Dr. Rubin has seen since COVID
How is oral health an indicator of your overall health
Flossing, brushing and what to look for in a toothpaste
Sleep apnea and how it relates to oral health
Women and gum sensitivity through puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause and post-menopause (I never thought of the 4 P’s framework here)
Biggest myth Dr. Rubin wishes she could make disappear
Eating disorders and their impact on oral health, which impacts your overall health
Ways to connect with Dr. Rubin:
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Timestamps
00:00 - Intro and Dr. Rubin’s background, including her favorite flavor of toothpaste
02:40 - Biggest trend since COVID
05:05 - Use of Botox for decreasing clenching of your jaw and helping to relieve pain
08:05 - Possible symptoms to look for yourself and anyone else you’re a caregiver for, and questions to ask your doctor if this is something you want to explore
11:00 - How do you know if you have been clenching your jaw while sleeping
12:24 - Oral health as an indicator of overall health
12:50 - The Stages of Periodontal Disease - what happens if you get periodontal disease - impacts to other aspects of your body
16:22 - What role does dental plaque play in periodontal disease?
[We’re in the process of getting more photos of some of the other diagrams Dr. Rubin showcased in the discussion.]
19:00 - Role of overall body inflammation and auto-immune disease with dental health
19:57 - Dental care becoming reactive since COVID - impact to patients’ from not coming in
21:15 - Jill’s story of now being a daily flosser after getting the shit scared out of her
22:48 - What are the situations when a patient should be aware that they need to take an antibiotic before going to the dentist?
27:30 - Traditional floss vs. floss picks vs. water picks
29:25 - Why “overzealous brushing” is bad!
31:25 - Toothpaste ingredients - things to look for when selecting a toothpaste
33:30 - How sleep apnea is tied to oral health
37:30 - Symptoms of sleep apnea and alternatives to a CPAP solution if you can’t tolerate the mask
39:40 - Why are women more at risk for periodontal disease?
43:20 - Is there more sensitivity when women have their menstrual cycle and when they are pregnant?
45:45 - Are there more specific symptoms during pregnancy? Should you go to the dentist more frequently when you are pregnant?
47:30 - Osteoporosis as it pertains to your jaw and the medications associated with osteoporosis
49:20 - Biggest myth that Dr. Rubin wishes would go away
51:30 - Trade-offs of not flossing daily vs. more invasive dental work down the road
52:30 - Importance of preventative care and the value of annual x-rays
54:20 - How eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia can impact oral health
56:30 - Wrap up!
If you found the timestamps useful or have advice on tweaking them, please let me know!
