I recently heard how scientists are working toward a unifying theory on why people smile. Cross-cultural studies have shown that smiling is a means of communicating emotions throughout the world — although those emotions can be different from culture to culture.

I will be interested to learn what researchers determine about our smiles — which originated some 30 million years ago.

What I already know — and what does not differ from culture to culture — is that our smile can tell us a lot about both our bone health and our overall health. Consider:
• Receding gums are often an early sign of body-wide bone loss.
• Periodontal disease implies both bone loss and a challenged immune system.
• Periodontal disease is linked not only to osteoporosis, but also to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses such as COPD or pneumonia.

A comprehensive natural program to build bone will not only directly benefit your jawbone, but will also dramatically improve the health of your teeth and gums — and, in turn, lower your risk of long-term heart and lung disorders.

That’s something to smile about!