Well, it probably goes a little beyond that.
We already know that a one in ten ER visits involves dental issues. Abscesses, wisdom teeth, rotted teeth, necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. Perhaps knocked out teeth. With the exception of the latter, all are completely avoidable with proper dental care and hygiene.
Fear of dentists, and thus refusing to address dental issues now when anesthetics and antibiotics are available—and most have insurance to cover the cost—is a ridiculous excuse. The pain of correcting dental issues in TEOTWAWKI will be orders of magnitude worse, and you’ll quite possibly be paying in silver or gold to do it. Get your teeth fixed and keep them fixed. Remember, dental issues can be deadly.
Take care of your teeth! Be prepared with toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental tools and other supplies, including temporary crown replacements and cement.
And in case that wasn’t motivating enough, let’s turn our attention to new research revealing a link between oral hygiene and chronic kidney disease.
Periodontal disease and cavities have been shown to significantly contribute to chronic kidney disease (CKD). How surprising is that! Multiple clinical studies showed that oral disease severity increases in tandem with CKD progression and systemic inflammation. Moreover, the studies show that it isn’t a one-way street. CKD, including uremia-associated immune dysregulation and impaired tissue repair, exacerbates periodontal disease. Oral health affects kidney health and vice-versa.[1]
However, in the real world, nephrologists and dentists don’t communicate. Just like urologists and cardiologists don’t communicate. Or when they do, they are usually arguing, insisting that their approach to disease management is the correct one, instead of recognizing that they must work together for the patient’s best interests to be met.
That’s where we can make a difference, recognizing that our family members affected by chronic kidney disease or poor oral hygiene must address both conditions for better health or for delaying the progression of chronic conditions. Periodontitis, this serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and bone supporting the teeth, progresses from gingivitis. It contributes to systemic inflammation and mortality in patients with CKD. Maintaining oral hygiene, which includes brushing the teeth at least twice per day, reduces the incidence of diabetes and lowers the risk of cardiovascular events.[2]
The researchers also noted that CKD and periodontal disease are much more common in low- to middle-income countries where resources are scarce and health care and preventative care are limited.[3] We’ll all be in the same situation when our world collapses. However, we don’t have to be resource-poor with regard to our dental care. Toothbrushes and floss are inexpensive now and will be incredibly valuable to preventing CKD and other diseases in the future. Stock up.
Links to related posts:
Dealing with an Abscessed Tooth in TEOTWAWKI
[1] Gudsoorkar, P., et al., Bridging systems: oral-kidney connections - pathophysiological links, clinical implications, and health system integration – a narrative review, BMC Nephrol 27, 201 (2026), https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12882-026-04843-y (accessed 27 May 2026).
[2] Gudsoorkar.
[3] Gudsoorkar.
