What is the Relation of Dental Care to the Whole Body

You might not know it but oral health is more than just the health of your tooth, gums and mouth. The mouth is the main entryway into the body, and poor oral health can have negative consequences to the whole body. Aching teeth, smelly breath and bleeding gums are all indicators of poor oral health. It is also easy to bacteria in the mouth to enter the bloodstream and cause and spread inflammation and infection. Here are some of the most common health problems caused by bad oral health. Cardiovascular Disease With periodontal disease, the gums are inflamed because of bacteria. This same bacteria can get into the bloodstream, causing plaque buildup in the arteries. The arteries can eventually harden, a condition called atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart blockages and increase the livelihood of a heart attack. Dementia Substances released from inflamed gums because of infection can kill the brain cells and cause memory loss. Dementia and even Alzheimer’s disease can be caused by gingivitis if the bacteria in the mouth spreads to the nerves in the teeth and enter the bloodstream. Respiratory Infections Bacteria in the mouth from swollen gums and infected teeth can be breathed into the lungs. It can also travel there via the bloodstream. Once there, the bacteria can give rise to pneumonia, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), acute bronchitis and other respiratory infections. Diabetes Diabetes patients are more prone to infections like periodontal disease, which makes diabetes harder to control. This makes them more prone to the disease’s complications. Gum disease can lead to blood sugar levels that are higher than normal. Thus, a person with poor oral health has an increased risk for developing diabetes. Pregnancy Complications Pregnancy brings about hormonal changes which makes a pregnant women more prone in developing oral infections. Any infection increases their risk of experiencing complications in pregnancy. Oral health problems like gingivitis and periodontitis is known to cause low birth weight and premature birth among infants. Infertility Gum disease leads to many overall health issues that can make it harder for women to conceive and sustain their pregnancy. Women with poor oral health have shown to take longer to get pregnant compared to those with good oral health. Erectile Dysfunction Chronic periodontal disease has shown to be related with erectile dysfunction. Bacteria from diseased gums get into the bloodstream, which causes the inflammation of blood vessels. This inflammation can block blood flow to the genitals, making erections difficult or even impossible to achieve. Rheumatoid Arthritis People with gum disease are four times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Both of these diseases have some form of inflammation. Oral bacteria from gingivitis increase inflammation in the body, which also increases the risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis. Cancer Poor oral health practices like using tobacco products is known to cause throat and oral cancers. Aside from this, other kinds of cancer have also been connected to gum disease. People with poor oral health have shown to have an increased risk for pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer and blood cancer. Kidney Disease People with gum disease mostly have a weaker immune system, making them more likely to acquire infections. People suffering from poor oral health also have some form of kidney disease. This health problem can be fatal, especially when it leads to cardiovascular disease or kidney failure. The best way to prevent these serious health problems is to practice good oral hygiene. This includes proper brushing and flossing, limit of sugary food and drinks, maintaining a well-balanced diet, and avoiding cigarettes and tobacco products. It is also important to schedule regular checkups with your dentist.