Do Dental Health Affects Your General Health

Many people have the notion that their dental health has little or no correlation to their general health. They think that bad breath, gum disease, tooth decay are the only issues associated with not brushing regularly. Well, the truth is that poor dental health can have a serious impact on our general health.

In this article, we will be looking at the connection between our oral health and our general health. 

Even more, we will unveil some health conditions you may develop if you don’t brush and floss regularly.

What’s the link between general health and oral health?

Our mouth contains millions of bacterial. While many of them are harmless, there are a few that may cause harm if left unchecked. Keep in mind that your mouth is an entry point to your respiratory tracts, digestive system, and organs.

If these harmful bacterial in your mouth become too abundant, the odds of them causing an infection will become very high.

One of the main reasons we brush and floss daily is to keep the bacterial population under control. If for some reason, you stop following your oral care routine, the bacteria are going to multiply rapidly. When this happens, you will become prone to oral infections like gum disease and tooth decay, just to name a few.

You should make it your aim to brush frequently when you are on antidepressants, decongestants, painkillers, antihistamines, and diuretics. Studies suggest that these medications may reduce saliva flow. When this happens, the microbes in your mouth will multiply quickly and cause serious damage. You see, saliva helps to neutralize the acid secreted by these bacteria in our mouth.

The bacterial linked to gum disease can cause even more damage if one has health conditions like HIV and diabetes. As you know, these conditions can lower one’s immune system. This, thus, will make the oral condition even worse.

Serious health conditions that are linked to poor oral health

Below are a few health conditions that may develop if you don’t take good care of your dental health.

Stroke

According to a study,  conducted a while back, people with gum disease have a higher risk of having stroke. Gum disease is linked to stroke because it alters the rate and manner blood flows to the brain. 

Pregnancy gingivitis

Many women experience gingivitis (swollen gum) even when they follow a good oral routine. If they don’t, the inflammation is going to become even more severe.

Kidney disease

Kidney disease is a serious health condition that increases blood pressure and affects the heart and bones. While kidney disease is usually caused by high blood pressure and diabetes, experts have pointed out that it can also be caused by periodontal conditions. If one has gum disease, their immune system will become weaker. This, thus, will make them more susceptible to serious infections.

Presently, a good number of people who don’t take care of their oral health have kidney disease. And as you know, kidney disease is a chronic health condition that can lead to kidney failure if it isn’t treated promptly.

Dementia

The bacterial associated with gingivitis, a serious oral condition, can cause dementia. The bacteria can enter the brain through the bloodstream. Dental experts suggest that oral conditions like gingivitis can increase the risk of one developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Pneumonia

Some bacteria in your mouth may enter your lungs and cause pneumonia and other serious respiratory conditions.

Diabetes  

Oral conditions like gum diseases may increase your blood sugar level and make you more likely to develop diabetes. People who are diabetic are more likely to develop gum infections as their condition progresses. Even more, they will have a hard time bringing their sugar level under control. This obvious reason is that periodontal conditions make it twice as difficult to control sugar levels.

Pregnancy complications

Pregnant women who have oral diseases are more likely to give birth prematurely.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Many dentists have pointed out that there is a strong correlation between oral conditions like gum disease and rheumatoid-arthritis. If the bacterial in our mouth are left unchecked, they may cause severe inflammation. What’s more, it will increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

Hypertension

When the bacterial that cause gum-disease becomes abundant, they will enter the bloodstream and creating plaques in the blood-vessels. When this happens, our blood pressure will increase rapidly. People with hypertension who also have gum disease may not recover quickly. Studies have shown that oral conditions like gum disease may interfere with the treatment of hypertension.

Heart diseases

The bacteria that cause gum disease can cause serious heart conditions. If you don’t eliminate these bacteria by brushing your teeth, they will enter the arteries leading to the heart. Below are some health conditions that they might cause.

Endocarditis

This occurs when the heart becomes inflamed and infected because of a bacterial infection.

Atherosclerosis

This is caused by the activities of oral bacterial. They can increase stroke and heart attack.  

Final note

To remain healthy, you need to take good care of every part of your body, including your mouth. Having poor dental habits can increase the risk of developing several health conditions that affect your life quality. So, make it a habit to brush your teeth and floss regularly. Make sure you change your brush every 3 months, as harmful bacterial may have accumulated in it. And if you already have an oral condition, you should take steps to address it as quickly as possible. If you don’t, they may deteriorate and cause other health conditions.