The Relationship Between Oral Health And Overall Health

It may come as a surprise for a lot of our patients and readers that there is a connection between your oral health and overall health.

What happens inside your mouth could make an impact on the other parts of your body. If there is an infection in the mouth, it can spread to other parts of your body. If there is an oral infection, the root cause of the same is bacteria. The bacterial growth can affect the other parts of the body if left untreated. Recent studies have suggested that gum diseases primarily caused due to poor oral hygiene and oral infection, have health afflictions, including HIV/AIDS and diabetes.

Further, when your body is fighting oral infection, it could also lower your body’s resistance to other infections, making you vulnerable to other problems.

Endocarditis – this is an infection that affects the inner lining of the heart and is caused when bacteria from other parts of the body spread to the heart via the bloodstream.

Diabetes – it has been observed that gum diseases are on the higher side for individuals with diabetes as diabetes decreases your body’s resistance to fighting infection.

Cardiovascular diseases – heart problems and other conditions such as blocked arteries and strokes have connections with inflamed gums and oral infection.

Osteoporosis – the bones become weak and brittle due to gum infections or diseases that cause loss of bone and tooth loss.

Some of the other medical conditions linked to poor oral health and hygiene include neck cancer, Sjogren’s syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, and more.

Further, gum diseases have also been linked to premature birth and low birth weight. Because of gum disease person can experience bad breath, bleeding gums, pus discharge and loss of bone support of teeth that can lead to mobility of teeth and eventual loss of teeth . Oral health is as important as your overall health, and it is crucial to understand that. Often, oral health is ignored due to a lack of awareness of potential damage that it can cause to the overall health.