With Dr Seb Lomas, Renowned Biological Dentist

For decades, dentistry has been treated as a localised discipline. Teeth were seen as mechanical structures. Gums as supporting tissue. Problems were addressed in isolation.

Biology tells a very different story.

The mouth is not a detached system. It is living tissue, a highly vascularised interface with one of the most diverse microbiome ecosystems in the body. It sits at the intersection of immunity, neurology, breathing, sleep, digestion, and stress regulation. When oral health is compromised, the effects rarely stay local.

To explore this connection, we spoke with Dr Seb Lomas, renowned biological dentist and Scientific Advisor at BON CHARGE, about why dentistry must be understood as whole-body medicine.

“Dentistry isn’t separate from medicine. The mouth is one of the most biologically active interfaces in the body - and it often shows systemic imbalance before anywhere else.”

The Mouth Is Living Tissue, Not Just Teeth

“The mouth isn’t an isolated set of teeth,” explains Dr Seb. “It’s living tissue and tooth organs by definition, a highly vascularised surface, and one of the most complex microbiome environments in the body.”

The gums act as a mucosal barrier, much like the gut lining. They sit millimetres from the bloodstream. When that barrier becomes inflamed or infected, bacterial by-products and inflammatory signals can have a wider impact on the body.

“The gums sit millimetres from the bloodstream. When that barrier is inflamed, the consequences are rarely local,” says Dr Seb.

Layered on top of this are the mouth’s mechanical and neurological links to breathing, posture, sleep quality, digestion, and stress response. Oral health influences far more than chewing.

Bleeding Gums Are Not Normal - They Are a Signal

Bleeding during brushing or flossing is often dismissed as harmless. It is not.

“Healthy gum tissue does not bleed with gentle brushing or flossing,” says Dr Seb. “Bleeding is inflammation.”

Locally, it reflects irritation and increased permeability of the gum barrier, often driven by biofilm imbalance, inadequate interdental cleaning, mouth breathing, or reduced saliva flow. Systemically, it signals that inflammatory load is higher than it should be.

“When gums bleed, it’s a signal that the barrier is compromised and the inflammatory load is higher than it should be.” Bleeding gums are an early biological warning, not a cosmetic issue.

Chronic Oral Inflammation Keeps the System on Alert

Chronic gum inflammation behaves like a low-grade wound that never fully heals.

The immune system remains activated. Inflammatory mediators circulate. Oxidative stress increases. Over time, this persistent signalling contributes to immune dysregulation and a higher baseline inflammatory tone.

There is also a nervous system cost. “Pain, mouth breathing, poor sleep, and ongoing inflammation can keep the nervous system in constant alert,” reducing recovery capacity and resilience.

The Periodontal-Cardiovascular Connection

The link between gum disease and cardiovascular health is no longer theoretical. “Gum disease is a chronic inflammatory condition, and so is cardiovascular disease. The overlap is not accidental.”

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition. Cardiovascular disease is, in part, an inflammatory process. The two share overlapping risk factors including smoking, diabetes, chronic stress, poor sleep, and metabolic dysfunction.

Periodontal pathogens and inflammatory markers have also been identified in vascular tissues in some studies, helping explain why modern medicine has shifted toward prevention in this space.

Oral inflammation does not remain confined to the mouth.

The Oral Microbiome as a Systemic Regulator

The oral microbiome plays a central role in immune education, nitrate metabolism, vascular signalling, and barrier integrity.

When balance is disrupted, inflammatory species can dominate. Endotoxin exposure increases. Gum permeability rises. Systemic inflammatory signalling follows.

Drivers of oral dysbiosis include mouth breathing, ultra-processed diets, chronic stress, smoking, low saliva flow, certain antiseptic mouthwashes, and unstable blood sugar.

Once again, oral health mirrors systemic health.

Early Warning Signs Often Appear in the Mouth

In clinical practice, oral signs frequently appear before broader diagnoses are made.

Bleeding gums, scalloped tongue, dry mouth, persistent morning breath, excess plaque, enamel wear, and inflammation that does not match hygiene effort often precede or reflect deeper issues.

These signs may mirror insulin resistance, sleep-disordered breathing, chronic stress load, reflux, autoimmune activity, or nutrient insufficiency.

The mouth is often the first place the body reveals imbalance.

The Mouth-Brain Connection

The mouth and brain are connected through the trigeminal system, vagal signalling, inflammatory pathways, and sleep quality.

Chronic oral inflammation can contribute to increased neuroinflammatory load. Sleep disruption from airway issues or oral pain amplifies stress signalling and may impair glymphatic clearance during deep sleep.

Supporting oral health therefore supports cognitive resilience, nervous system regulation, and long-term brain health.

Reframing Oral Care for Longevity

Oral care should be framed as daily barrier protection and inflammation check point, not cosmetic maintenance.

Ageing well depends on maintaining function: stable gums, comfortable chewing, nasal breathing, and low systemic inflammation. Teeth matter, and the tissues and biology around them sustain health.

Core Principles for Whole-Body Oral Care

Dr Seb outlines several biological principles that should guide preventative oral care, he prioritises:

• Protecting the Gum Barrier
  Daily interdental cleaning, gentle brushing at the gumline, and monitoring bleeding.
• Support Saliva
  Hydration, nasal breathing, addressing dry mouth, and avoiding constant snacking.
• Respect the Microbiome
  Avoid over-stripping antiseptics. Prioritise mechanical cleaning and anti-inflammatory nutrition.
• Stabilise Blood Sugar and Inflammation
  Protein-forward meals, adequate minerals, omega-3 intake, and reduced ultra-processed foods.
• Address Airway and Sleep
  Mouth breathing drives oral dysbiosis, salivary alteration, gum inflammation, and enamel stress.
• Use Biomimetic Support Where Appropriate
  Hydroxyapatite, minerals, and strategies that work with biology.
• Track Early Signals
  Bleeding, bad breath, recession, sensitivity, tongue scalloping, wear, and morning dryness.

The Future of Dentistry

Dentistry is evolving beyond isolated treatment. It is becoming a window into systemic health and a powerful opportunity for early intervention.

“When oral care is approached biologically, it becomes one of the most powerful drivers of long-term health.” — Dr Seb

That is what a whole-body approach to dentistry truly means.