The Mouth-Body Connection: Oral and Overall Health

Clean, healthy gums, sparkling teeth, and fresh breath: A vibrant smile brings us undeniable confidence. Through proper dental hygiene routine and maintaining optimal periodontal health, we avoid potential problems such as plaque buildup, tooth decay, bacterial infections, gum disease and oral bacteria complications.

However, did you know the benefits of oral health extend beyond dental hygiene? And, conversely, poor dental care affects your systemic health and overall sense of well-being. Read on to learn more about the connection between oral microbiome and overall health and get tips for shaping up your care routine.

Understanding How Plaque Affects Your Health

A lack of effective daily proper dental hygiene and brushing techniques and comprehensive flossing routine results in plaque buildup and excess bacteria, which causes numerous oral health concerns. Left unchecked, several common complications can develop. Although they may begin in your mouth, we’ll discuss how these dental health issues can negatively affect your entire body.

Common Oral Health Complications and Their Impact

Gingivitis: Early stages of gum disease causing irritation, redness, and swelling, often accompanied by gingival bleeding

Periodontitis: Advanced stage of periodontal disease, resulting in tooth loss and gum infections. Surprisingly, this condition often remains painless until it reaches more advanced stages.

Trench mouth: Most severe form of gum disease, causing ulceration and destroying gum tissue through bacterial endotoxins

Understanding Health Risks of Poor Oral Hygiene

When we neglect our oral hygiene, the negative effects cascade throughout our system. From compromising internal organs to aggravating or even causing fatal diseases, the relationship between dental health and body wellness represents a crucial area of modern medicine.

Impact on Diabetes Management

People with diabetes face an increased risk of developing severe periodontal disease, as diabetes reduces the body’s resilience to infection. Unfortunately, if a diabetic develops severe gum disease, it can promote insulin resistance, which further complicates the control of blood sugar. Regular dental prophylaxis and observation help manage this risk.

Connection to Pregnancy Complications

Researchers have linked severe periodontal disease to premature birth and low birth weight. The tooth sensitivity and salivary gland changes during pregnancy can affect oral health. Medical professionals hypothesize that toxins from oral bacteria reach the placenta through the mother’s bloodstream, interfering with natural growth. Expectant women can avoid this risk by maintaining proper oral pH balance. If intending to become pregnant, we recommend a comprehensive dental examination as soon as possible.

Effects on Heart Health

Most people have heard about the link between heart health and dental biofilm, but the extreme implications of this connection deserve more detail. Gum infections can trigger systemic inflammation throughout your body and increase the risk of arterial blockages. These complications increase the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and cardiovascular disease.

Additional conditions linked to oral health include HIV/AIDS, osteoporosis, eating disorders, various cancers and tooth demineralization.

Preventive Dental Care for Overall Health

Not all habits contribute equally to dental health. Some improve your tooth enamel strength, like daily flossing, while others deteriorate it. Smoking substances, such as tobacco or cannabis, causes gum disease and tooth decay. It also reduces saliva production, which is a natural mouth protectant. Drinking excess alcohol causes gum disease, tooth decay, and mouth sores. Sugar is also a not-so-sweet nemesis, causing excess bacteria and plaque that leads to enamel breakdown and tooth decay. There are many other reasons to avoid overindulging in these things, but maintaining optimal oral health definitely makes the list.

By now you’ve seen how poor dental hygiene affects overall health. You can protect yourself from these risk factors now and for years to come by following healthy lifestyle routines. Through proper nutrition, comprehensive dental examinations and regular check-ups, and daily flossing and brushing, your pearly whites will thrive.

Essential Guidelines for Oral and Overall Health

• There’s a vital connection between oral microbiome and overall health
• Regular dental prophylaxis prevents harmful bacteria from affecting your system
• To avoid an issue going untreated, we recommend a professional dental cleaning every 6 months and a dental exam annually
• Maintain your oral health by avoiding harmful habits and adopting preventative routines

Looking for a family dentist, comprehensive dental restorations or emergency dental care services in West Edmonton? Contact our dental office or schedule your appointment online today.