When you brainstorm ways to improve your overall health, chances are you don’t initially think of taking care of your smile. You see a doctor for medical problems and a dentist for dental issues, but did you know that your oral and overall health are closely connected?
If you have poor oral hygiene, your risk for many serious medical conditions drastically increases. In this post, you’ll learn more about how oral health affects your well-being and how you can keep your body safe from harmful infections and diseases.
Heart Disease
Many, many studies have found a strong correlation between the mouth and the heart. In fact, those who have gum disease, also called periodontal disease, are much more likely to experience a cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke. The inflammation-causing bacteria can enter the bloodstream, harden arteries or blood vessels, or even infect the lining of the heart.
Dementia
Research has found that poor oral health can impact brain function. Namely, harmful bacteria can enter the bloodstream, travel to the brain, and damage or even kill cells that aid memory. In addition, from several recent studies, the link between Alzheimer’s and poor oral health is becoming clearer.
Diabetes
Diabetes and oral infections go hand in hand. If you have poorly controlled diabetes, you are more likely to experience oral infections like gum disease. In turn, if you have gum disease, you will likely struggle to manage your diabetes. More specifically, gum disease can cause blood sugar levels to become more elevated than normal, which means that someone with this infection could be at a higher risk of developing diabetes.
Certain Types of Cancers
Certain harmful behaviors, such as smoking or excessive drinking, have clear and obvious links to oral cancer. However, other forms of cancer, such as kidney and pancreatic cancer, have been linked to poor oral health as well.
Pregnancy Complications
In pregnant women, changing hormones can wreak havoc on their oral health. If not properly controlled, these infections in the mouth can lead to complications like preterm birth, high blood pressure, and more. Poor oral health is also linked to infertility in women and erectile dysfunction in men, which means it can interfere with getting pregnant in addition to keeping a healthy pregnancy.
While the risks associated with gum disease are scary, the good news is that oral health can be quite simple to achieve. On a daily basis, you need to brush and floss your teeth, and you must visit your dentist at least every six months for checkups and cleanings. If you already have gum disease, more frequent appointments may be necessary to get the infection under control. Regardless of whether you already have gum disease or are simply trying to prevent it, you need to prioritize your oral health in order to stay healthy overall.
About the Author
Over the course of his more than 30-year career, Dr. James Kramer has had thousands of hours of advanced training. In fact, he has achieved Mastership with the Academy of General Dentistry, a distinction that less than 5 percent of dentists in the US have earned. In addition to regular preventive services, Dr. Kramer can provide periodontal therapy including PerioChip, a medication that reaches deep into the gums. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kramer, you can contact his Selbyville office by calling 302-436-5133 or visiting online.