Dental Health

How Your Oral Health Affects Your Overall Health

Dental care tips for healthier teeth
Written by Collins Nwokolo

Just like your eyes are the window to your soul, similarly your mouth is also the window to your health. Your oral health is not only vital to make your smile look great and function in the right way. There is much more to it than just that.

Oral health is not only essential for an incredible appearance but it is also very significant for your overall heath. Nutrition for the physical body is not the only thing that is facilitated by the mouth. But it also promotes self-esteem and enhances interaction and thus, triggers the feeling of wellbeing.
In fact, research has shown that there is a link between the oral health and the overall health in various ways. Though the researchers do not have a clear idea about whether the connection is correlative or just casual, but it can’t be denied that there is a strong connection between them.

Reputable dentists suggests that there is no doubt that oral care habits can bring a difference and can even create great impact on your overall health and
wellness. Let’s try to explore how!

How Your Oral Health Affects Your Overall Health

How Oral Health Affects Your Overall Health 

  • Cardiovascular Ailments and Oral Health – People who suffer from periodontitis have a higher heart attack risk as the mouth happens to pave an open path into the body. Researchers have concluded that the bacteria from the gums that are infected can easily dislodge, make an entry into the blood stream, get attached to the blood vessels and give rise to clot formations. Clot formations can also be triggered by the inflammation from the gum disease. The blood flow to the heart is decreased by clots that elevates the blood pressure and enhances the heart attack risk.
  • Lung Disease and Oral Health –Lung infections are also caused by periodontal disease. This can range from mild respiratory issues to severe health problems like pneumonia. If not treated effectively this can prove to be fatal. Although it can be quite difficult to comprehend how taking care of your oral health can make the lungs healthier. But it will make all the more sense if you judge how the bacteria-filled air can damage the lungs. You should go for regular dental check-ups to check that periodontal disease has not developed. Serious lung problems can be prevented by great oral care.
How Your Oral Health Affects Your Overall Health
  • Diabetes and Oral Health–Type 2 diabetes patients have an enhanced risk of developing periodontitis disease. Extensive research has been conducted in this regard. It has been revealed that people with higher level of gum disease have almost double the risks to develop type 2 diabetes than those with lower levels. While more researches have to be conducted there are some theories that prove the fact that oral health and diabetes are related. One of them says that when infections in the mouth gets bad, low-level inflammation can be formed in various parts of the body. As a result of that, the sugar processing abilities of the body get affected by it.  Not only that, there are also different kinds molecules and they may get attached to the receptors of insulin and prevent the body from using them for preparing glucose into the cells.
  • Pregnancy and Oral Health – Pregnant women have higher risk of periodontal disease. This happens because of higher level of progesterone that causes an overwhelming response to plaque bacteria. As a result of that, pregnant women are more prone to develop gingivitis even if they follow a great oral health care routine. Moreover, the women who have gum disease are almost seven times more prone to have prematurely born baby with a low birth weight than those who do not have gum disease.
  • Dementia and Oral Health – Gingivitis involves a lot of bacteria and gives rise to new ones in the mouth. These bacteria can enter the brain either through the blood stream or through the nerve cells in the head. This can even lead to the Alzheimer’s’ Disease.

 

How Your Oral Health Affects Your Overall Health
Preventing Health Related Issues

Doing away with most of these health issues is in your hands and you can do it by taking extra care of your health and that includes your oral health. You should brush twice daily and floss regularly. This way you should keep at bay as many germs as possible from your teeth and gums.

Gum disease can be prevented if you remain a bit careful and pay greater attention to your oral health. If you have a history of gum disease then it is suggested that stricter hygiene and greater number of visits to a reputed and experienced dentist to prevent recurrence. Oral health care should also be a priority.

With healthy habits and regular visits to the dentist you will be able to maintain a great oral health and hence reduce the chances of these serious ailments from developing. So ensure that you do not compromise in this case.

Author’s Bio :- 
Nitesh Ranjan is  an experienced digital marketing expert and a prolific blogger who has been working closely with the most renowned and top dentist in Bushwick and other areas since many years now. His years of association with clients and enormous research have conferred on him immense practical knowledge about this field that he seeks to spread this to the world through his blogs so that the readers can benefit from them.

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About the author

Collins Nwokolo

Collins Nwokolo is a passionate medical physiologist, health blogger and an amazing writer. He is a health and fitness enthusiast who loves sharing helpful information to people.

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