Did you know that your oral health is so significant it can even affect the rest of your body? Many people omit the idea of oral care and disregard it solely as a problem in the mouth. However, this is incredibly inaccurate. As Dr Caswell Evans, Associate Dean for Prevention and Public Health Sciences, UIC College of Dentistry, has stated, “The significance of the mouth as part of our health is often overlooked and under-appreciated.”
Life-Threatening Diseases and Conditions
The mouth, which is the entry to many parts of your body, such as the digestive and respiratory tracts, can overflow with bacteria which may cause disease. In addition, without proper oral hygiene, the bacteria can reach an extent that may lead to dental cavities, gum disease, tooth decay, and more. Some studies even highlight that bacteria and inflammation related to periodontitis, a severe gum disease, may usher on diseases, as well.
One’s oral hygiene can play a part in many diseases and conditions. These include, but are not limited to, pneumonia, cardiovascular disease, endocarditis, pregnancy and birth complications, certain cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, and much more.
The Specifics: Heart, Lungs, Birth Complications
Endocarditis, which is a life-threatening infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves, occurs when bacteria, fungi, and other sorts of germs, such as those from the mouth, spread through the bloodstream and attach to specific areas in the heart.
Pneumonia, the inflammatory condition of mainly tiny air sacs in the lungs called alveoli, can be caused when particular bacteria in the mouth is pulled into the lungs.
Oral HPV is mostly seen at the base of the tongue and surrounding the tonsils. This causes what is referred to as ‘oropharyngeal cancers.’ When bacteria grow in the mouth because of one’s poor oral hygiene, it can infect the mouth and throat causing abnormal cell growth.
Lastly, periodontitis has been correlated with premature birth and other complications including low birth weight.
More Consequences of Oral Health
Furthermore, some conditions can even worsen your oral health by reducing the body’s resistance to infection. Some of these include diabetes, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Osteoporosis.
Diabetes is a disease that results in high blood glucose. Diabetes puts your gums at risk when it reduces the body’s resistance to fight o infection. Studies show that those with diabetes prove to be more apt to develop gum disease, and have a difficult time trying to manage their blood sugar levels.
Osteoporosis is a bone-weakening disease that is observed to be connected with periodontal bone and tooth loss. In fact, certain drugs that are meant to treat this disease carry the risk of damaging the bones of the jaw.
Oral Health Equals Mental Health
Proper oral health leads to pronounced mental health. Although some may be skeptical of this, poor oral hygiene, like dental decay and tooth loss, leads to habitual pain experiences, low self-esteem, anxiety, and a decrease of confidence in your overall body image. Therefore, to keep a stable mental health, one must take care of their oral health first.
Taking Care of Oral Hygiene
The body’s instinctive defenses and adequate oral health care, like daily brushing, flossing, and mouthwash, can keep bacteria at bay. At the Dental Center of Redondo Beach, where prices are reasonable, Dr Gharibian and his friendly sta cannot wait to help you reach your oral hygiene goals. Whether this is through teeth cleaning, teeth whitening, dental veneers, and more, DCRB has it all! Because at the end of the day, your oral health comes before anything else!
