How Oral Health Impacts Your Overall Health
Taking care of your teeth doesn’t just guarantee a pretty smile. It’s crucial for avoiding cavities, gingivitis, gum disease, and other teeth and gum conditions. Moreover, what you may not realize is that ignoring your dentist’s advice on oral hygiene affects your overall health. In fact, mouth issues could cause problems in the rest of your body, including your heart, lungs, stomach, and brain.
Preventing oral care complications involves a consistent routine and a few key oral health habits. Also, health education is a good place to start. At Fairview Adult Day Care Center in Brooklyn, NY, we offer comprehensive advice on your well-being, including physical activity, nutrition, mental health, therapeutic recreation activity, and emotional support. You’ll also receive assistance with other medical conditions you’re dealing with, including dental care.
Connection Between Oral and Overall Health
Visiting the dentist consists of discussions on oral hygiene, including proper brushing and flossing techniques. Dental professionals may also discuss gum disease, gingivitis, and other mouth issues. What they may not tell you is how poor oral health affects other areas. The following sections discuss what dental health professionals may be leaving out.
Digestive issues
One surprising area affected by poor oral hygiene is digestive health. When you eat, drink, or swallow saliva, bacteria wash down your throat into your stomach. If your stomach acids don’t kill it, the bacteria could upset the gut microbiome.
Germs may then move through the digestive tract, including the intestines and bowels. As they travel through the body, immune functions are compromised, and unexpected health issues could occur.
Infections
Infections are another common issue affecting your overall health when oral care is ignored. Those with gum disease have higher amounts of bacteria in their mouths, which could be inhaled. The germs then settle in the throat and lungs, causing pneumonia, chest infections, or lung disease.
Cardiovascular diseases
One of the most dangerous aspects of poor oral health is its effect on cardiovascular health. Bacteria in the mouth could find its way into the bloodstream. From there, it travels through the arteries and veins, entering the heart.
Some conditions related to poor dental health include clogged arteries, heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and endocarditis. If untreated, these issues could become fatal, so regular dental appointments are vital to avoid such frightening complications.
Cancer
Several cancer-causing carcinogens and viruses enter the body through the mouth. Poor oral hygiene allows those unwelcome intruders to thrive and spread to other areas of the body.
In fact, studies have found that poor oral health is linked to several cancer types. Oral cancer isn’t surprising since the mouth is where the issue starts. However, studies have found those with periodontal disease and tooth loss have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. Experts also believe esophageal and stomach cancers are more likely in those with overall oral health issues.
Other diseases
Several other diseases could be caused or worsened by poor dental health. These include diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease, and osteoporosis.
Improper oral hygiene could also affect fertility issues and cause premature labor in pregnant women. Mouth bacteria could even reach the brain, damaging cells and increasing the risk of dementia. To avoid such problems and improve overall health, discuss proper oral hygiene with your dentist.
Oral issues can cascade into serious problems affecting you’re your internal organs. Preventing dental issues from causing numerous other illnesses involves maintaining good oral hygiene in the first place.
We hear all these regularly, but it is crucial to follow dentists’ advice religiously. Do your best to keep your teeth clean and healthy. Whether the connection is direct, indirect, or coincidental, maintaining a healthy mouth through regular dental care and avoiding smoking can help preserve your teeth. This is a compelling reason to prioritize your oral health.
Resources:
- NIH, Oral Hygiene
https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/oral-hygiene - NCBI, March 18, 2019, Can oral bacteria affect the microbiome of the gut?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6427756/ - Oral Health Foundation, Five conditions that can be affected by poor oral health
https://www.dentalhealth.org/news/five-conditions-that-can-be-affected-by-poor-oral-health - Cleveland Clinic, October 20, 2022, How Your Oral Health Affects Your Overall Health
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/oral-health-body-connection - Hartford HealthCare, Can Poor Oral Hygiene Cause Cancer?
https://thocc.org/about/news-press/news-detail?articleId=55467&publicid=395 - American Association for Cancer Research, Oral Health and Colorectal Cancer Risk
https://www.aacr.org/patients-caregivers/progress-against-cancer/oral-health-and-colorectal-cancer-risk/ - Harvard Health Publishing, October 1, 2020, Oral health problems may raise cancer risk
https://www.health.harvard.edu/cancer/oral-health-problems-may-raise-cancer-risk - The American Academy for Oral & Systemic Health, 15 Diseases Caused by Poor Dental Hygiene
https://www.aaosh.org/connect/15-health-issues-caused-by-poor-oral-health - Gum disease and the connection to heart disease by Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/gum-disease-and-the-connection-to-heart-disease
This article is for educational and informational purpose only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. For any questions about your own health condition, speak to a qualified physician or healthcare provider.
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