Taking care of your mouth, teeth, and gums ought to be a priority for everyone. After all, maintaining good oral hygiene can stave off bad breath, cavities, and tooth decay. In turn, it will ensure you keep your teeth as you age.
But maintaining good oral hygiene is about more than keeping a healthy smile; researchers now understand that poor oral hygiene can adversely affect your health in general. Believe it or not, there is strong evidence linking poor oral hygiene to serious health problems like heart disease and stroke.
Here are a few of the conditions that maintaining healthy teeth and gums may help you avoid.
One of the Most Common Chronic Diseases
Gum disease, also known as gingivitis, is one of the most overlooked chronic diseases in the world, affecting men and women of all ages, but particularly those in their 30s and 40s. There can be many contributing factors to gum disease, including hormonal changes and autoimmune diseases like HIV/AIDS. Left untreated, gingivitis can progress into periodontitis, which is gum disease that has spread to the underlying bone and tissue. And it doesn’t stop there. Gum disease itself can open the door to additional health-related issues.
This is due, in part, to the fact that diseased gums are vulnerable to bacterial infection. This creates an opportunity for dangerous bacteria to penetrate your gums, get into your bloodstream, potentially causing illness, disease, or complications elsewhere in the body.
Associated Diseases
Long-term gum disease and subsequent infections are most often associated with broken teeth or loss of teeth. But there may be much more serious consequences, too. Researchers are studying whether prolonged gum disease may cause or exacerbate:
Cardiovascular Disease
This may occur when bacteria from the mouth enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation in other parts of your body, including your arteries. When inflamed, your arteries are more susceptible to the buildup of dangerous plaque, which can lead to increased chances of a stroke or heart attack. According to research, 60% of patients who had lost at least 10 teeth due to gum disease also had a buildup of plaque in their carotid artery.
Endocarditis
Similar to the aforementioned cardiovascular health issues, endocarditis is specifically an infection of the inner lining of your heart. Endocarditis may occur when bacteria from the mouth enter the bloodstream and becomes attached to the lining of the heart.
Diabetes
Gum disease can make controlling diabetes more challenging. This is because gum disease can increase your susceptibility to infection. Infection can, in turn, prompt an insulin resistance in the body. Thus, controlling blood sugar levels becomes all the more difficult for those with diabetes.
Premature Birth
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, as many as 18 premature births in the US each year could be related to oral infection. When a mother has infected gums, the buildup of oral bacteria releases toxins into the bloodstream, eventually traveling through the placenta and interfering with the normal development of the fetus. Simultaneously, labor-inducing substances are produced by the same oral infection, which can cause the mother to go into labor days or weeks early.
While more research is needed to establish a definitive link between gum disease and these conditions, mounting evidence is pointing to a connection.
Saliva as a Diagnostic Tool
Your saliva is a useful tool when it comes to diagnosing issues that may be stemming from areas of the body beyond your mouth. A simple swab of saliva can tell doctors a lot about your overall wellness, from detecting cortisol levels related to stress and monitoring bone loss in osteoporosis.
Saliva is also important in protecting your body against bacteria and viruses, as it contains critical antibodies that can protect you against illness. If your saliva is deficient in these antibodies due to autoimmune disease, you may be more susceptible to those illnesses.
For example, oral thrush, which results in white lesions covering the lining of your mouth, is a fungal infection that can develop if your saliva’s protective proteins are diminished by poor oral health or autoimmune disease.
How to Improve Oral Health
If you’re looking for ways to improve oral health, there are some simple steps that should be taken immediately.
- Brush your teeth twice a day using fluoride toothpaste. If tolerable, a firm or medium bristled toothbrush should be used for at least two minutes per brushing, using a circular motion to brush the teeth, gums, and tongue.
- Floss at least once per day. Flossing removes food particles that become caught between the teeth and the gums; those particles, if left to fester, can build into dangerous plaque over time.
- Avoid substances that are harmful to your oral health like tobacco (smoking and chewing), cola, and sticky candies.
- Evaluate your overall diet and make adjustments as necessary. A healthy diet is the first line of defense for disease in the body. Limit sugar intake, increase your consumption of healthy vegetables and proteins, and brush after meals when possible.
- Schedule regular check-ups with your dentist. As with a primary care physician, establishing a relationship with a dentist can ensure you’re getting the best advice and treatment options.
A Bellwether of Your Health
Maintaining your oral health is about so much more than just your mouth, teeth, and gums. The state of your oral health can both influence and reflect the state of your overall health; it is essentially a bellwether of your health in general.
The good news? It’s easy to establish a basic routine to protect your oral health and prevent dangerous diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and more. For more information about how to protect your oral health, contact your dentist and schedule a checkup.
