How oral health affects health

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How oral health affects health

Your mouth is an entryway to your body. In that respect, it’s essential that your dental hygiene is impeccable. You may not even think about this, but bacteria in your mouth, the health of your gums, as well as the condition of your teeth can all greatly influence your body. Therefore, regular visits to the dentist, brushing your teeth twice a day as well as regular use of floss and mouthwash are the key to preserving both your oral and your overall health. If you’re not sure how exactly your dental health can influence you entirely, keep on reading. This is how oral health affects health.

The connection with diabetes

The connection with diabetes

Essentially, inflammations in your mouth can impede the body’s ability to use insulin. For someone with diabetes, this can be a huge health problem. Not only is there an issue with insulin utilisation, but gum disease is connected to a lack of control when it comes to blood sugar as well. Loss of teeth is one of the symptoms when it comes to diabetes but the consequences of poor oral health can worsen the patient’s condition the other way around as well. Luckily, regular visits to the dentist can prevent further complications. What’s more, a dentist can discover diabetes at its early stages with thorough gum inspection as well.

Increased risk of heart-related issues

This is something very serious that can actually put your life at risk. Namely, periodontitis can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Essentially, gum inflammations pose health concerns for your heart. Inflamed blood vessels minimise the blood flow in your entire body which puts the patient at a higher heart attack risk. What’s more, fatty plaque can damage the blood vessels and travel to the patient’s heart or brain, which can result in a stroke.

Pregnancy issues

Pregnancy issues

There are many factors that can influence early delivery and problems with baby’s development during pregnancy. However, it’s clear that women who suffer from gum disease are at a significantly higher risk of premature delivery and health problems. Infection in the gums causes the immune system to react in ways that can impede proper baby development. What’s more, women can experience trouble when trying to stay pregnant precisely because of periodontitis. Due to disturbed hormonal levels, women are more likely to suffer from periodontitis during pregnancy, which is why proper oral hygiene and regular dentist check-ups are a must.

Breathing problems

It’s not uncommon that people with poor dental hygiene experience breathing problems and even suffer from chronic pneumonia. Basically, it’s fairly possible to breathe in bacteria and plaque particles in your mouth. These can then travel to your lungs and cause various breathing problems and serious health issues. And if you smoke, your gums will be more prone to infections due to constricted blood vessels. Combine smoking with poor dental hygiene and you will be at higher risk of respiratory illnesses.

Prevention is the key

There has been some speculation that gum disease and infections can be linked to rheumatoid arthritis as well. In order to avoid this issue as well as minimise the risk of the above-mentioned health problems, it’s essential that you take proper care of your teeth and gums. Electrical toothbrushes remove plaque more effectively compared to the regular ones. Moreover, choose your toothpaste wisely so that it doesn’t irritate your gums or damage the tooth enamel. If you need to wear braces, don’t fight this necessity. Thanks to the Invisalign technology, you can get straight teeth and a nice smile with invisible braces. Most importantly, get rid of all bacteria and food particles with floss and mouthwash. This five-minute routine in the mornings and evenings can save you a lot of trouble later on.

Prevention is the key

 

As you can see, the mouth-body connection is not to be underestimated. You’re responsible for your own health and the effort you put into your oral care will significantly pay off. Remember, no doctor will be able to cure and help you if you don’t start taking care of yourself first.

Diana Smith

Diana Smith is a full time mom of two beautiful girls interested in topics related to health and alternative medicine.

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