We tend to think of our oral health as being separate from our overall health. The truth, however, is that oral health is a window to your overall health. Not only does your oral health tell us something about your overall health, problems in your oral health can affect your overall health.
How is Oral Health Linked to Overall Health?
Bacteria inhabit most of your body, including your mouth. Most of this bacteria is harmless. However, some of this bacteria is dangerous. Now, consider that the mouth is the gateway to your digestive system and respiratory tracts and you can see how bacteria that collects up in the mouth can spread to the digestive system and respiratory tracts.
If you maintain proper oral hygiene, brushing and flossing at least twice daily, using mouthwash and paying regular visits to your dentist, you should be able to keep the levels of dangerous bacteria down. Meylan Saginaw dentistry believes that if you also have a tooth-friendly diet, your chances of facing dental problems decline.
If, however, you do not maintain proper oral hygiene, then your risk of having high levels of dangerous bacteria increases. This can result in oral infections like gum disease and tooth decay.
In addition, using medications such as antidepressants, antihistamines, decongestants, diuretics and painkillers can lead to reduced saliva flow. Saliva is important for washing away any food particles in your mouth, and for neutralizing acids produced in the mouth by bacteria. Without saliva, microbes can multiply in your mouth and cause disease.
What Diseases Are Associated With Poor Oral Health
Research suggests that oral bacteria and inflammation from periodontitis (a type of gum disease) is a driver in various diseases. Those with periodontal disease are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular problems, due to the bacteria making its way through their bloodstream.
Periodontal disease can also lead to respiratory problems, and where patients already have pre-existing respiratory conditions, these can become exacerbated.
Men who have periodontal disease suffer from erectile dysfunction at a rate seven times greater than those who do not have periodontal disease.
In the United States, 95% of people suffering from diabetes also suffer from periodontal disease and a third have suffered some form of tooth loss.
If a person has HIV/AIDS or diabetes, their immune system is compromised, which can cause oral health problems to become more serious.
Tooth loss can also lead to dementia, because of the inflammation that takes place and affects the brain.
How Do We Maintain Good Oral Health
As we said above, it's important to brush and floss at least twice daily and visit your dentist regularly. You should also take foods rich in the triage of fat-soluble vitamins: A, D, and K2. These vitamins, in addition with calcium, will not only protect your teeth, but help with healing your oral health after some of the damage done to your oral health over the years.
You should also reduce your sugar intake and cut down on smoking and alcohol.