It may come as a surprise for a lot of our patients and readers that there is a connection between oral health and overall health. What happens inside your mouth could make an impact on the other parts of your body. If there is an infection in the mouth, it can spread to other parts of your body.
If there is an oral infection, the root cause of the same is bacteria. The bacterial growth can affect the other parts of the body if left untreated. Recent studies have suggested that gum diseases primarily caused due to poor oral hygiene and oral infection can adversely affect even the cardiovascular system(heart).
The mouth serves as a “window” to the rest of the body, providing signals of general health disorders. For example, mouth lesions may be the first signs of HIV infection, aphthous ulcers are occasionally a manifestation of Coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease, pale and bleeding gums can be a marker for blood disorders, bone loss in the lower jaw can be an early indicator of skeletal osteoporosis, and changes in tooth appearance can indicate bulimia or anorexia. The presence of many compounds (e.g., alcohol, nicotine, opiates, drugs, hormones, environmental toxins, antibodies) in the body can also be detected in the saliva.
Further, when your body is fighting oral infection, it could also lower your body’s resistance to other infections, making you vulnerable to other problems.
Here are a few conditions that are linked to poor oral health.
Endocarditis – This is an infection that affects the inner lining of the heart and is caused when bacteria from other parts of the body spread to the heart via the bloodstream.
Diabetes – It has been observed that gum diseases are on the higher side for individuals with diabetes as diabetes decreases your body’s resistance to fighting infection and diabetic patients are more prone to dental infection flare-ups than non-diabetics.
Cardiovascular diseases – Heart problems and other conditions such as blocked arteries and strokes have connections with inflamed gums and oral infection.
Osteoporosis – The bones become weak and brittle due to gum infections or diseases that cause loss of bone and tooth loss.
Some of the other medical conditions linked to poor oral health and hygiene include head and neck cancer, Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and more. Further, gum diseases have also been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
Oral health is as important as your overall health, and it is crucial to understand that. Often, oral health is ignored due to a lack of awareness of potential damage that it can cause to the overall health.
City Dental Care is one of the most reputed clinics in Wakad. We offer advanced, highly effective, painless, and affordable dental treatments using the latest dental technology. Our team consists of some of the most accomplished, reputed, and skilled Oral and maxillofacial surgeons, Periodontists, Endodontists, Prosthodontists and Pedodontists who are committed to providing the best dental care to our patients. Schedule an appointment with us today to know more!