The link between general health and oral health is not always known to the general public.
Yet, poor oral health significantly impacts overall health, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and lung disease.
In the elderly, poor oral health makes it difficult to chew, which can lead to deficiencies, malnutrition, and even a risk of falling.
Poor oral health can also have major repercussions in everyday life: difficulty communicating, lower self-esteem, and withdrawal… Keeping a pleasant smile and easy speaking helps maintain an image of a positive self and daily living comfort.
When you Google Dentists near me and approach the nearby dentists, they will give you an idea of how Oral Health impacts overall health.
Keep reading this article to know how oral health impacts the functioning of the overall body.
Oral health and diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition that requires constant attention to blood glucose levels.
What may surprise many is that good oral hygiene is also critical for managing diabetes.
Experts have identified a bidirectional relationship between diabetes and periodontitis, a severe gum infection that damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports your teeth.
Diabetics are more susceptible to periodontitis, and having periodontitis can also make it harder to manage blood glucose levels.
Oral health and heart health
Recent studies have found that people with gum disease, also known as gingivitis, have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
The link between oral health and heart health can be attributed to the bacteria that cause gum disease.
When these bacteria enter the bloodstream, they can cause inflammation in the blood vessels, leading to the buildup of plaque.
This buildup can restrict blood flow and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Oral health and pregnancy
During pregnancy, women tend to focus more on their health and their unborn children. While morning sickness and dietary changes are commonly discussed topics, oral health often gets overlooked.
Pregnancy can lead to various dental issues, such as pregnancy gingivitis caused by hormonal changes. Pregnant women are also more susceptible to gum disease, which can increase the risk of premature birth and low birth weight.
Oral health and brain health
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia affect millions of people worldwide, and research has found a potential link between oral health and cognitive impairment.
In particular, gingivitis has been found to be associated with a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
The bacteria that cause gum disease can enter the bloodstream and travel to the brain, causing inflammation that can contribute to the development of cognitive decline.
Oral health and lungs
Poor oral health can also affect your lungs. The bacteria that cause gum disease can be inhaled into the lungs, leading to respiratory infections such as pneumonia.
This is particularly concerning for those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of lung diseases that make it difficult to breathe.
The oral cavity plays an essential role in chewing, digestion, respiration, phonation, facial expression, and sensory reception. It is both a mirror of general health and one of the first steps in the body’s defense against external attacks (such as certain bacteria, for example).
Certain general diseases promote oral disease onset, progression, or severity. Conversely, some oral diseases can have remote consequences and promote certain general diseases’ onset, progression, or severity.
It’s essential to remember that poor oral health can significantly impact your overall health, and taking care of your teeth and gums is an important part of maintaining good overall health.
That is why it is important to preserve your oral health to maintain a quality of life on a daily basis.