Connecting mind and mouth

There is much work happening right now to connect the mouth and body, promoting a more integrated approach to health. In particular, dental professionals may be interested to know more about how the mind and body interact, and how psychological science can be used to motivate behaviour change in patients.

I have always enjoyed combining my love of dentistry, public education and academia to develop a career within this area. Having worked as a dental nurse and a dental hygienist/therapist in practice, I have diversified my focus over time into the fields of psychology and neuroscience. The goal of all my work is to connect the mouth and mind, and to explore the relationship between oral health and human behaviour. As a dental professional, I feel that delivering oral hygiene instructions is only a small part of the puzzle.