A Douglas College instructor will shed light on the impact of oral health on overall health as part of a free speaker’s series Mar. 21.

Debbie McCloy will share from more than three decades of experience with an interactive “tour” of the mouth to help identify health issues. The College Dental Assisting program co-ordinator, who has lectured at conferences across North America and Europe, will also explain the links between the mouth and health concerns such as diabetes, heart disease, miscarriages and more.

“The mouth is one of the few places we can see into the body without surgery or incision. The tissues of the mouth tell us a great deal about the body,” McCloy said. “There are diseases and conditions that can be first identified in the mouth.”

McCloy will also share a guide to detecting and preventing oral diseases and will explain how a healthy smile contributes to overall health and wellbeing.

The College’s speaker series invites a variety of experts to discuss health issues with a regional, national and global impact. It is free and open to the public.

The Mar. 21 talk starts at 10am at Douglas College’s Coquitlam campus, 1250 Pinetree Way, in room A1470.