Do you know that oral health can damage your overall health? Read more to know how oral health affect overall health.
Conditions Linked To Oral Health
Poor oral health can cause severe problems for your whole body, not just your teeth and breath. Learn how oral health affect overall health of your body.
Heart Problems
When we talk about heart problems, we mean issues with your heart and the tubes that carry blood around your body. Having bad oral health is linked to heart diseases like:
Coronary artery disease: This is the most common type of heart problem and can lead to heart attacks and heart failure. It’s the number one cause of death in the United States.
Blocked arteries: People with gum disease (periodontal disease) have a higher chance of getting clogged arteries. Clogged arteries happen when a sticky substance called plaque builds up inside the blood tubes.
Stroke: Gum disease is strongly connected to strokes, especially the kind caused by clogged arteries.
Poor oral health can cause many health problems that affect different parts of your body.
Endocarditis
You’re more likely to get endocarditis if you already have heart issues. This is when the lining of your heart valves and sometimes the inside of your heart gets inflamed because of a bacterial infection.
You can pick up this infection during procedures like getting a tooth pulled. It’s not usually a problem for healthy hearts, but it can be very dangerous for people with heart problems.
Pregnancy and Birth Complications
If you’re pregnant, taking care of your whole body, including your mouth, is essential. Poor oral health during pregnancy can cause issues like:
- Slower growth of the baby in the womb.
- Gestational diabetes.
- Babies born with low weight.
- Miscarriages or stillbirths (when the baby doesn’t survive before birth).
- Preeclampsia (a condition that affects pregnant women and can be severe).
That’s how oral health affect overall health of your body and cause complications in pregnancy.
Pneumonia
Having cavities in your teeth has been linked to getting pneumonia, an infection in your lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi.
The germs from your mouth can accidentally get into your airway and then into your lungs, making you sick. It also makes it easier for the bacteria that cause lung infections to stick in your lungs.
Other Issues
Having a healthy mouth is vital for eating correctly. Eating is necessary to stay alive and depends on good teeth and gums. If you don’t take care of your teeth, it can cause problems like:
- Cellulitis (a bacterial skin infection).
- Swelling in your face.
- Gum disease, which can make your gums bleed and hurt.
So, keeping your mouth healthy is not just about having a pretty smile; it’s about taking care of your whole body.
What Affects Oral Health?
Some things can affect your oral health and overall health. If you wonder how oral health affect overall health, read to know the reasons:
Common Risk Factors
Poor oral health causes diseases. Some things can make your mouth and body less healthy. That’s how oral health affect overall health.
These include:
- Eating sugary foods, which can lead to cavities and other health problems.
- Using Tobacco (smoking or chewing) is bad for your mouth and body.
- Drinking too much alcohol can harm your mouth and your overall health.
- Feeling stressed can make oral and systemic (body-wide) health problems more likely.
So, if you do these things, it’s possible to have problems in both your mouth and your body.
Genetics
Some people are more likely to get gum problems and other diseases because of their genes. It means it can run in your family, and you might be more at risk even if you try to take good care of your mouth and body.
Your body reacts to bacteria in different ways. It’s not about genes but how your body naturally responds.
For example, when some people encounter bacteria, their bodies react strongly and can cause inflammation and damage. It can lead to higher levels of specific molecules, like C-reactive protein, in people with gum disease and other body-wide diseases.
Diabetes
If you have diabetes that isn’t well controlled, you’re more likely to get gum disease. And if you do get gum disease, it can get worse faster.
Osteoporosis
This condition makes your bones weaker and can affect your jawbone, which holds your teeth. So, it’s connected to gum disease.
Other Health Conditions
Some other diseases and disorders can mess with your oral health, too, like:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Fibromyalgia
- HIV/AIDS
- Prostate cancer
- Rheumatoid arthritis
That’s how oral health affect overall health. These conditions can all impact your mouth and teeth. Always take good care of your oral health, especially if you have one of these conditions.
Conclusion
Hope now you know how oral health affect overall health. Neglecting your dental care can cause severe diseases and health problems. Contact Dentalsway for more information on maintaining your oral health to have a healthy smile.
