You probably didn’t know this, but your oral health can seriously affect your overall health. By learning more about that connection, you will be able to protect yourself a lot more efficiently.
So what’s the connection?
Just like all other areas of the body, our mouth is teeming with bacteria. However, most of them are harmless. Normally, our body’s natural defense combined with proper oral health care (brushing and flossing daily) can keep all the bacteria under control. However, improper oral hygiene will help bacteria reach levels that will further lead to various oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease.
In addition, there are certain medications such as painkillers, antihistamines and antidepressants that can reduce our saliva flow, which is not good. Saliva has a role to wash away the food we eat and neutralize acids that bacteria in our mouth produce. By doing so, saliva protects us from microbial invasions that can lead to diseases.
Many studies also suggest that oral bacteria and periodontitis (a severe form of gum disease) might actually have a role in some diseases. Furthermore, certain diseases like HIV/AIDS or diabetes can lower our body’s resistance to infections, which makes those oral problems even more severe.
How gum disease affects the body
Gum, or periodontal disease is the name for a wide range of oral health problems, from gingivitis, all the way to more serious periodontitis, when gums get pulled away from the teeth, which results in serious infections.
Many people can have early signs without even realizing it! Some symptoms are persistent bad breath, gums that bleed when flossing, swollen gums, sensitive teeth or painful spots on gums while chewing. Over 90 percent of adults over 30 have some stage of gum disease, and 65 percent of 15-year-olds already have it as well – which is quite scary.
Even though our mouth is an isolated system, it is still an integral part of our immune system, because it is intimately connected to many other body parts, and if there is gum disease or any kind of bacterial imbalance in there, that can create immune problems in other body parts as well.
In fact, gum disease can actually increase the risk of many forms of cancer – from breast cancer and pancreatic cancer, all the way to esophageal cancer and many others.
The really problematic part of gum disease is that it goes beyond the mouth, since it represents an active bacterial infection that will sooner or later affect the whole body, since it has access to it through your bloodstream. And these bacteria can firstly destroy flesh and bone tissue in your mouth, which leads to severe problems and tooth loss. This was even documented under a microscope, where bacteria could be seen attacking and even killing white blood cells.
People that had, or want to prevent periodontal disease, usually opt for all on 4 dental implants because they can eliminate those health issues and they are easy to take care of.
Conditions that are allegedly linked to oral health
Your oral health may contribute to many conditions and diseases such as:
- Endocarditis – an infection of the endocardium (the inner lining of the heart). This typically occurs when germs and bacteria from another part of our body (such as mouth in this case) spread through the bloodstream and attach to damaged heart areas.
- Cardiovascular disease – There is some research that claims that heart disease, stroke and clogged arteries might be linked to infections caused by oral bacteria.
- Pregnancy and birth – Periodontitis is linked to low birth weight and premature birth.
Certain conditions can also affect your oral health, such as:
- Diabetes – diabetes is known to reduce our body’s resistance to infection, which puts our gums at huge risk. Gum disease is apparently more frequent and severe among diabetics. Also, research shows that people with gum disease have a much harder time controlling the levels of sugar in their blood, and that regular periodontal care can improve that.
- HIV/AIDS – Many oral problems such as mucosal lesions for example, are common among people with HIV/AIDS.
- Osteoporosis – it causes bones to become brittle and weak, and that might be linked with tooth loss and periodontal bone loss. Drugs for treating osteoporosis carry a risk of damage to the jaw bones.
Other conditions that can be linked to our oral health include rheumatoid arthritis, eating disorders, neck cancer and Sjogren’s syndrome – an immune disorder that causes dryness in our mouth.
Because of these possible links, you should warn your dentist if you are taking any form of medications or if you had any changes in your health – especially something chronic such as diabetes.
Ways to protect your oral health
It is simple – make sure you practice good oral hygiene daily. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and use a fluoride toothpaste, floss daily, avoid acidic foods, replace your toothbrush every three months, do regular dental checkups and avoid tobacco.
What do you do to protect your oral health? Do you have any tips to recommend? Feel free to comment below.
Guest Blogger
Diana Smith can be reached at dianasmith.dany@gmail.com or Google+
