"Say ahh." Nobody likes it, but your mouth may be one of the most revealing windows into how well — and how long — you live, Axios' Natalie Daher writes.

• The big picture: Scientists are finding that gum disease may do far more than threaten your teeth, The Wall Street Journal reports (gift link).

🪥 Zoom in: Bacteria from diseased gums and the inflammation they trigger may be linked to heart disease, diabetes, cognitive decline and other conditions that shape how well we age.

Stunning stat: Nearly half of all adults 30 and older have periodontitis, a serious form of gum disease that can cause bone loss around the teeth, according to the CDC.

• That share rises to nearly 60% for those 65 or older, just as the risk of other chronic conditions increases.

🩺 Between the lines: Better coordination between dentists and doctors could help identify health risks earlier and improve patient care.

• But first, the health system needs to overcome the traditional divide between medicine and dentistry through more record-sharing and cross-referrals.
• "We envision a future where a heart doctor asks patients if they are seeing their dentist regularly, and whether they are aware their periodontal disease could mean they have a much worse heart situation," Wenyuan Shi, head of the American Dental Association Forsyth Institute, tells the WSJ.

🦷 Friction point: Many older Americans lack dental coverage, and Medicare doesn't generally cover routine dental care.

🔬 What to watch: Researchers and startups are developing new ways to detect, prevent and treat gum disease.

• That includes therapies that target inflammation, AI tools for reading dental X-rays, saliva tests, and sensors that monitor changes in the mouth and even connect to wearables.
• A recent Journal of Periodontology report predicted those technologies could power better detection and treatment.

The bottom line: Brushing and flossing aren't just saving your teeth. They're supporting your whole body.

Reader Bruce Bosse and his wife, Sharon, took in the stunning scenery last weekend aboard a train in Skagway during their first trip to Alaska.

• Based in Knoxville, they've become avid travelers since retiring a few years ago.