Your oral health can affect your overall health.
The condition of your mouth is related to diseases other than your mouth in different ways. Sometimes the first signs of your illness appear in your mouth.
Infections in your mouth, such as gum disease, can be linked to diseases in other parts of your body.
The Relationship Between Dental Health and Body Health
Your mouth naturally contains bacteria. You can usually control these bacteria by following good oral hygiene, such as brushing and flossing.
Saliva is also a defence agent against bacteria and viruses. Saliva contains enzymes that bacteria kill in a variety of ways. But harmful bacteria sometimes get out of control and lead to periodontitis – a serious infection of the tissues around the teeth and gums.
If you do not already have enough reasons to take care of your mouth, teeth and gums, the relationship between oral health and the health of other organs is another good reason to do so. By maintaining good oral hygiene daily, you make a profitable investment not only for yourself now but also for your future.
The Relationship Between Oral Health and Other Diseases
This is the connection between oral health and overall health.
Flossing, brushing your teeth and regular visits to the dentist are important factors in the health of your mouth and teeth. Dentists and doctors say that the health of your mouth and teeth generally affects your body. According to researchers, almost every disease is somehow related to the mouth.
Here are some specific diseases that are known to be related to oral health:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD)
- Respiratory Illnesses
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Diabetes
- HIV / AIDS
- Osteoporosis
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Cancer
- Pneumonia
- Other diseases
sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that targets salivary glands, includes some cancers, syphilis, gonorrhea, and drug addiction.
The Connection Between Oral Health and Overall Health is important.
When your gums are healthy, the bacteria in your mouth usually do not enter the bloodstream. But gum disease allows bacteria to enter the bloodstream.
Sometimes invasive treatments in the mouth and teeth can also cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream. And medications and treatments that reduce saliva flow or upset the natural balance of bacteria in the mouth may also lead to oral changes that make it easier for bacteria to enter the bloodstream.
These bacteria and inflammation in your mouth cause health problems in the rest of your body.
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
One of the diseases that can be mentioned about the effects of dental health on the body is heart disease. When you do not care about oral hygiene and do not take care of your teeth, your teeth will grind and this will cause a heart attack in the long run. Toothpaste can clog your arteries, and this has been proven by scientific research.
Another disease that will come to you if you do not pay attention to dental health is gingivitis, which causes bleeding. This blood, which contains bacteria, can infect other parts of your body with bacteria and damage the lining of the heart.
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Gum disease has been linked to preterm labour. Some research has shown that pathogenic bacteria in a pregnant woman’s mouth can enter the placenta or amniotic fluid and possibly cause preterm labour.
Pregnant women with periodontal disease may be up to 7 times more likely to give birth to a baby who is premature or underweight. Pregnant women whose periodontal disease worsens during pregnancy are also at higher risk of having a premature baby.
Unfortunately, the treatment of periodontal disease during pregnancy may be too late, because the infection may have already spread to the woman.
That is why it is essential to have oral health and dental evaluation before becoming pregnant.
Diabetes
Diabetes increases the risk of gum disease, tooth decay, tooth loss, dry mouth and various types of oral infections. Therefore, oral diseases are considered as one of the complications of diabetes.
On the other hand, poor oral hygiene and severe gum infections can make it more difficult to control diabetes. Infections cause high blood sugar and require more insulin to control blood sugar.
Therefore, diabetics with periodontal disease should be treated to eradicate their oral infection.
HIV / AIDS
In some cases, one of the first signs of AIDS in the mouth may be a severe gum infection. Persistent white spots or unusual lesions may also appear on the tongue or in the mouth.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is also one of the diseases that can be affected by poor oral hygiene. Bacteria in the mouth can contaminate the air that travels from your mouth into your body and damage your lungs.
Respiratory Illnesses
Respiratory bacterial infections are caused by the aspiration of small droplets of fluid from the mouth and throat into the lungs. These droplets contain bacteria that can multiply inside the lungs and damage them.
Bacteria that grow inside the oral cavity can cause respiratory infections such as pneumonia, especially in people with peripheral tissue diseases.
People with chronic bronchitis and other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who already have lung damage due to persistent smoking may be more likely to develop infections.
Oral hygiene can also help with respiratory health.
Osteoporosis
The first stage of bone loss reduction may manifest itself in the teeth. Your dentist may notice this during a routine dental x-ray. If the decrease in bone density gets worse year by year, your dentist may refer you to other specialist doctors for advice.
Osteoporosis can also cause tooth loss. Decreased jaw bone density reduces the bone support of the tooth and causes the teeth to no longer to have a solid foundation.
Result
If you have a family history of heart disease or diabetes, it is best to keep your oral health as high as possible so that you can manage any problems in the future.
Pregnant mothers with gum disease are more likely to give birth prematurely or give birth to low birth weight babies. If you are pregnant or planning to have a baby, talk to your dentist about oral health precautions.
Brushing and flossing can be painful, but the pain is small compared to the consequences of not taking care of your teeth for your general health! Aside from the long-term benefits, you will enjoy less tooth decay and a smoother breath.
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