Dr Shalini Sharma on Dental Health, Hidden Warning Signs, and What Most Indians Get Wrong About Their Teeth
In India, nearly 90 to 95 percent of people have some form of dental issue — yet most of us believe that brushing twice a day is enough. Dr Shalini Sharma, a dentist who has worked with not just general patients but also celebrities and politicians, sat down with DoubleSure Insights to change that thinking.
From the real reason cavities are increasing in children, to the dangerous link between gum disease and heart attacks, this conversation covers everything your dentist wishes you already knew.
The Most Common Mistake Indian Patients Make
DoubleSure Insights: What is the single most common mistake you see across patients?
Dr Shalini Sharma: Ignorance of dental problems. Patients feel a little sensitivity — they ignore it. Food gets stuck between teeth — they ignore it. Gums bleed — they ignore it.
The problem is that when you ignore small things, they progress. And once they progress, the treatment becomes expensive, extensive, and far more difficult. A filling today becomes a root canal tomorrow. A root canal ignored becomes an extraction. That cascade is entirely avoidable.
People still think teeth are separate from the body. They are not.
Your Mouth is a Mirror of Your Health
DoubleSure Insights: You mentioned that teeth are connected to overall health. Can you explain that connection?
Dr Shalini Sharma: Absolutely. The most common example is diabetes. There is a direct cause-and-effect relationship between gum disease and diabetes — they worsen each other. If gum disease is present, it becomes a contributing factor for diabetes mellitus. And if blood sugar is high, the bacterial attack in the mouth increases, gums become severely inflamed, and teeth start loosening before their time.
The same applies to cardiovascular health. Dental bacteria deposit on blood vessel walls and create plaque formation — the same way fat layers deposit and stiffen arteries. Studies have shown that periodontal disease causes blood vessel stiffening, which can lead to heart issues.
There are also early signals for anaemia, leukemia, vitamin deficiencies — a dentist can often detect these just by examining the tongue. Angular cheilitis at the corners of the mouth can indicate iron or vitamin deficiency.
So a regular dental visit is not just about your teeth. It is an opportunity to catch signals your body is sending before they become serious.
Three Brushing Mistakes Most People Make Daily
DoubleSure Insights: What are the top three brushing mistakes you see?
Dr Shalini Sharma: First — wrong technique. Most people brush horizontally with force. This is incorrect. The correct method is to hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line and use gentle circular or vertical strokes. Horizontal scrubbing wears away the enamel at the neck of the tooth, causing sensitivity that should ideally appear at 50 or 60 years showing up in a patient’s 30s.
Second — hard bristle brushes. Your teeth are not utensils to be scrubbed. The purpose of brushing is to remove the soft layer of bacterial deposits that accumulate overnight. Soft bristles do this perfectly. Hard bristles cause abrasion.
Third — brushing for too long. Two minutes is sufficient. I had a patient recently who brushed for 15 minutes every session for years. By the time she came to me, her teeth were worn down to gum level. She needed full mouth rehabilitation — root canals on every tooth followed by caps. Her family had always praised her for being thorough. That thoroughness destroyed her teeth.
Charcoal Toothpaste, Salt Toothpaste — Hype or Reality?
DoubleSure Insights: What about all these specialty toothpastes — charcoal, salt — are they actually beneficial?
Dr Shalini Sharma: Marketing. That is what they are. Salt is not needed in toothpaste. Charcoal toothpaste is abrasive and should not be used long-term because it causes enamel erosion, which leads to sensitivity issues. Use any reputable toothpaste of your choice — but focus on your brushing technique. That matters far more than the brand or the ingredient on the label.
Pregnancy and Dental Health — Myth or Fact?
DoubleSure Insights: People commonly believe that teeth become weak during pregnancy. Is that true?
Dr Shalini Sharma: Partially true, but the detail matters. During pregnancy, it is not the teeth that become weak — it is the gums. Because of hormonal changes during pregnancy, gums become inflamed. In some cases, a bulge forms on the gum which we call a pregnancy tumour — it is not dangerous, but it looks alarming.
However, this is not inevitable. If you maintain good oral hygiene and continue regular dental visits during pregnancy, the inflammation will be minimal. The hormonal changes are unavoidable — but the damage is not.
Bad Breath — Hygiene Issue or Symptom of Something More Serious?
DoubleSure Insights: Is bad breath just a hygiene problem or can it indicate something deeper?
Dr Shalini Sharma: Both. We categorise the causes as local and systemic. The most common local cause is deposits on the teeth and gums — bacteria accumulate around those deposits and cause bad breath.
But bad breath can also be a systemic signal. Diabetics often have a characteristic fruity odour. Chronic sinusitis causes post-nasal drip which produces odour. Chronic constipation also contributes to halitosis. At the first visit, we take a full history — and just from the history, more than half the diagnosis is often clear before we even examine the patient.
Filling vs Root Canal — How Do You Know Which One You Need?
DoubleSure Insights: How does a patient know whether they need a filling or a root canal?
Dr Shalini Sharma: Fillings are indicated when symptoms are mild — occasional sensitivity, food getting stuck, slight discomfort while chewing. At that stage, we can fill the cavity and stop it from progressing.
The problem is that 75 percent of patients come to us only when they are in severe pain — meaning the decay has already reached the nerve and blood vessels inside the tooth. At that point, the only option is a root canal.
If you come early, a simple filling saves you time, money, and pain. If you wait until the pain is unbearable, you have already waited too long.
What Actually Happens During a Root Canal?
DoubleSure Insights: Can you explain the root canal process in simple terms for someone who has never had one?
Dr Shalini Sharma: The tooth has three layers — enamel on the outside, then dentine, and then the innermost soft tissue called the pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels.
When a cavity starts, it begins in the enamel. If untreated, it progresses through the dentine and eventually reaches the pulp — that is when severe pain begins.
In a root canal, we remove all the decayed portion, clean out the canals inside the roots where the nerves and blood vessels sit, and seal everything. The tooth becomes non-vital — meaning it is technically dead — but it remains completely functional for the rest of your life as long as it does not get reinfected.
The accuracy of root canal treatment today is almost 99.5 percent. And it is done under local anaesthesia — the procedure itself is not painful. The pain people fear is the pain they already have when they arrive at the clinic. Come earlier, and even that is avoided.
Bleeding Gums — Warning Sign or Overreaction?
DoubleSure Insights: How seriously should someone take bleeding gums?
Dr Shalini Sharma: Very seriously. Bleeding gums can range from a trivial issue — such as deposits on teeth — to a sign of a major systemic disease. Severe diabetes causes bleeding gums. Puberty and pregnancy cause it due to hormonal shifts. But bleeding gums can also be an early indicator of leukaemia and other blood cancers, where gums become so sensitive they bleed on the slightest touch.
Never normalise bleeding gums. Get them examined.
Mouth Ulcers — When Should You Worry?
DoubleSure Insights: What about mouth ulcers — how long is too long?
Dr Shalini Sharma: Normal ulcers heal in 10 to 14 days. If you have a single, isolated ulcer that is not healing beyond two weeks, that is a warning sign for a precancerous lesion. It must be investigated. A healing ulcer that keeps returning in the same spot also deserves attention.
Most people dismiss mouth ulcers as heat or stress. The ulcer itself is usually harmless. A non-healing ulcer is not.
Cardiac Health and Dental Health — A Connection Most People Do Not Know About
DoubleSure Insights: What is the connection between dental health and heart health?
Dr Shalini Sharma: It is a strong and well-documented relationship. When gum disease is present, the quantity of bacteria in the bloodstream — what we call bacteraemia — increases significantly. These bacteria travel through the blood and can settle on heart muscles and valves, causing infection.
This is why patients who have had valve replacements or bypass surgeries must inform their dentist before any dental procedure. We start prophylactic antibiotics beforehand to prevent bacteraemia from triggering cardiac complications.
Gum inflammation also directly causes inflammation in blood vessels, worsening cardiovascular health. And in reverse, poor cardiac health worsens gum inflammation. The relationship works in both directions.
If you have any cardiac condition, your dental health is not optional — it is part of your cardiac care.
Quick Answers — Floss, Mouthwash, Electric Toothbrush
DoubleSure Insights: Rapid fire — what is your verdict on these?
Dr Shalini Sharma:
Flossing — Optional, but beneficial where possible.
Mouthwash — Occasional use only. Chronic mouthwash use causes staining that progresses from creamy to yellow to brown. Use it when prescribed for a specific condition — not as a daily ritual.
Electric toothbrush — Originally designed for people with limited manual dexterity. Cleans 21 percent more effectively than a manual brush. But manual brushing with correct technique is always better. Do not use an electric toothbrush as a substitute for learning how to brush properly.
Tongue cleaning — Good, but do it gently. Alternate days is sufficient if you are consistent.
Chewing gum — Helpful without sugar, as it increases salivary flow.
Advice for Parents — When Should Children First See a Dentist?
DoubleSure Insights: When should parents bring children to the dentist for the first time?
Dr Shalini Sharma: The moment the first tooth appears, start brushing. Use a child-specific toothpaste with appropriate fluoride. Parents — especially mothers — should self-examine the child’s mouth regularly and look for black spots or swollen gums.
By the age of two and a half, when all primary teeth have come in, bring the child for a dental visit. This is not just for examination — it is to familiarise the child with the dental environment so they are not afraid later.
The biggest driver of childhood cavities today is diet. Junk food, chips, chocolates, toffees, sticky candies — these all adhere to tooth surfaces and cause cavities. Our diets have changed. Raw, fibrous foods that naturally clean teeth are being replaced by processed, sticky foods that feed bacteria.
Final Message
Dr Shalini Sharma is a dental professional based in Delhi-NCR with experience treating general patients, celebrities, and political figures. This interview was conducted for DoubleSure Insights as part of our ongoing series featuring healthcare experts across India.
Disclaimer: This interview is for informational purposes only. Please consult a qualified dental professional for diagnosis and treatment of any dental condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Fortis Noida Neurosciences Conclave?
An annual CME event organised by the Department of Neurosurgery at Fortis Hospital, Noida. Running since 2015, it focuses on advances in brain and spine surgery, complication management, and multidisciplinary neuroscience. The 2026 edition was its 10th anniversary.
