Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body: Diseases Linked to Oral Health

A healthy mouth contains a balanced number of beneficial and harmful bacteria. When bad bacteria outnumber the good bacteria, oral problems, such as tooth decay, bleeding, inflamed gums, and other similar dental issues, occur.

The best way to prevent these issues is to ensure you practice good oral hygiene. Otherwise, it could lead to other health problems. You might not know it yet, but your dental health affects your overall health. A little gum problem could grow to more intense conditions that affect your vital organs.

To help you understand the link better, here are the health problems that are sometimes caused by poor oral health.

The Infections and Diseases Coming from Bad Oral Health

Not seriously taking care of your oral health can lead to the following diseases:

Pneumonia or Other Respiratory Problems

The air you breathe goes into your lungs from your nose or your mouth. When the bacteria in your mouth finds its way into your lungs, it can lead to respiratory complications, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. One way bacteria reaches your lungs is through the bloodstream. When gum disease starts to break down oral tissue, it also allows oral bacteria to leak into your bloodstream until they get into your lungs.

If you are suffering from chronic lung diseases, these harmful bacteria can reduce your medications' and treatments' effectiveness.

Diabetes

When you have a gum disease called periodontitis, your gums become swollen and start to pull away from your teeth, creating gaps. If you have diabetes, periodontitis will make it difficult for your body to absorb insulin medication. Because there's not enough medication controlling your blood sugar level, there's a chance that you'll experience persistent high blood sugar levels.

This situation worsens the infection in your mouth, which could lead to further soreness. It then becomes a cycle that gets worse over time. If you have diabetes, make sure to maintain good oral health to avoid these risks.

Strokes and Heart Attacks

Did you know that plaque buildup can increase your chance of getting a heart attack or stroke? According to a study, the bacteria found in plaque can contribute to blocked arteries. If you don't brush and floss regularly, your teeth will develop plaque. When this plaque gets into your bloodstream, it could get lodged in your arteries and wholly or partially block blood flow, which leads to either heart attack or stroke.

Possible Infection for HIV Patients

People with HIV are more vulnerable to infections. These minor infections could escalate quickly and immediately weaken their immune system, making it harder for them to fight off the ailment. As much as possible, patients with HIV should always be extra vigilant when it comes to their dental health.

Affects Pregnancy

Gynecologists often ask pregnant women to schedule a dental checkup with their dentist. Dental health can affect their pregnancy and the health of their unborn baby. For example, periodontitis puts unborn babies at higher risk of underdeveloping and increases the likelihood of premature labor. To avoid these possibilities, maintaining good dental health and a visit to the dentist is essential during pregnancy.

Conclusion

Taking care of your teeth is not only for having that beautiful smile to flash to people. It is also part of taking care of your general health. Forgetting to pay attention to your oral health can lead to diseases that can harm your well-being.

Make sure to observe proper oral hygiene to improve your overall health. Regular dental checkups can help gauge your oral health situation, so make sure to visit your dentist for an assessment at least twice a year.

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