You know, of course, that you need to take good care of your teeth, gums, and overall oral health. But did you know that oral health and general health are interlinked? That your oral health will determine your overall health? Well, it’s true! If you have poor oral health you can suffer from chronic diseases, ranging from diabetes to cardiovascular disease.
This is because your mouth is the gateway to your body and if you do not take good care of your oral health, harmful bacteria can enter your respiratory and digestive tracts through your mouth, causing disease. In this article, we’ll discuss the 10 most common general health conditions that can occur if you have poor oral health.
1)Cardiovascular disease:
If your gums are inflamed due to the bacteria that cause periodontal disease, some bacteria can enter your bloodstream, causing your arteries to form plaque and harden. This is really dangerous and can result in a condition called atherosclerosis. It leads to problems with blood flow as well as heart blockages and it also increases the risk of a heart attack. The impact of poor oral health on your arteries and blood vessels can also lead to hypertension and strokes. The lining of the heart can also become infected, a condition called endocarditis.
2)Respiratory infections:
This can result due to poor oral health because bacteria in the mouth from swollen gums and infected teeth can be breathed into the lungs or can travel there through the bloodstream. Once there, they can lead to respiratory infections, such as acute bronchitis, pneumonia, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
3)Diabetes:
Not only does diabetes predispose to swollen gums and infected teeth, but periodontal disease can make diabetes difficult to control. Blood sugar levels can oscillate greatly due to gum disease. Also, gum disease can result in higher than normal blood sugar levels, and so, a person with periodontal disease runs the risk of developing diabetes.
4)Pregnancy complications:
A pregnant woman goes through several hormonal changes and these can cause oral infections. It is imperative that you take good care of your oral health during pregnancy. This is because any infection in a pregnant woman’s body can increase the risk of pregnancy complications. These include premature birth and low birth weight in infants. Gum disease can cause serious health issues in both mother and baby.
5)Infertility:
Gum disease can lead to several overall health issues that can result in infertility in women. Women with poor oral health may find it difficult to conceive and to carry the pregnancy to term. It may actually take longer for a woman with poor oral health to become pregnant than it does for a woman with good oral health.
6)Erectile dysfunction:
Chronic periodontal disease (CPD) increases the risk for erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. CPD is an infection that occurs when the gums pull away from your teeth, creating pockets with bacteria in them. These spread to the surrounding teeth and bone. These bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause the blood vessels to become inflamed. This can block the blood flow to the genitals, causing erectile dysfunction.
7)Cancer:
Smoking and using tobacco have been linked to oral cancer, but the latter can also occur due to gum disease. The incidence of cancers such as kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, and blood cancer is much higher if you have chronic periodontal disease and poor oral health.
8)Kidney disease:
Periodontal disease leads to kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease not only affects the kidneys, but also affects the heart, bones, and blood pressure. If you have chronic gum disease you may have a weaker immune system than those with good oral health. This may make you more susceptible to infections and kidney disease. Kidney disease can be fatal if it results in kidney failure or cardiovascular disease.
9)Rheumatoid Arthritis:
Doctors have found that persons with poor oral health and chronic gum disease are four times more likely to have Rheumatoid Arthritis. The oral bacteria from chronic gingivitis can cause inflammation throughout the body. This increases the chances of developing Rheumatoid Arthritis, a painful and debilitating inflammatory disease.
10)Dementia:
Poor oral health can also affect the brain. Substances that are released from inflamed and infected gums can kill brain cells, leading to memory loss. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can result from chronic gingivitis, when bacteria in the mouth enter the bloodstream and spread to nerve channels.
The best way to prevent these life-threatening conditions is to take good care of your oral health. You should brush and floss for two minutes at least twice a day. You should also avoid smoking and using tobacco products. You should use fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash and should limit sugary foods and drinks. You should also eat a balanced diet for optimal nutrition.
Besides these, you should visit your dentist regularly, at least once in six months for a thorough dental check-up and cleaning of your teeth. At Vistadent, we treat your overall oral health in a holistic way. We recognize that gum disease can be a silent adversary and we offer the best periodontal treatment because we believe that the health of your gums is as important as the health of your teeth.
We are one of the best dentists in Hyderabad and we perform many periodontal procedures, such as cleaning and scaling, periodontal or flap surgery, bone grafting, and mucogingival surgery. We also treat our patients with the best in dental care, including orthodontics treatment, endodontics treatment, prosthetic replacement of teeth, restorative dentistry, Invisalign, dental implants, cosmetic smile designing, and major and minor surgeries.
At Vistadent, one of the best dental clinics in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, we follow the highest standards of hygiene and safe dental care. We treat patients of all age groups and also advise them as to how to achieve optimal oral health. We care for you and your oral health. So, the next time you face a problem with your overall oral health, don’t hesitate…simply visit Vistadent for the right treatment today and always!
For more information about your oral health, as well as other dental problems and procedures, contact Vistadent, the Orthodontic Speciality Clinic, at 040-23388111 or +91 9866572482 or at info@vistadent.net or visit our website at http://vistadent.net/.