Even though you may not think that dental health has got anything to do with your overall health, it is in fact very important for you because it is a window to your overall health. Let’s find out how your dental health and overall health related.

The connection

Your mouth contains lots of bacteria but most of them are harmless. If you are maintaining good oral health care and the natural defenses of the body of fine than it is possible to control such bacteria. However, if you do not follow proper oral hygiene, it number of bacteria may increase and it can result in oral infections like gum disease and tooth decay. Saliva is a very important element that helps you to control bad bacteria. It washes away food and neutralizes acid production caused by bacteria. That is how it protects you from any type of microbial invasion or overgrowth which can lead to disease. But sometimes the production of saliva in your mouth may go down. If you are using some medicines like decongestants, painkillers, antihistamines, antidepressants or diuretics, they may deduce saliva flow in your mouth. When that happens, the possibility of dental problems increases.

Periodontitis is a severe form of gum disease and the oral bacteria and the inflammation associated with this problem may also play a role in some diseases. In other cases if a disease lowers body’s resistance to infection, it can cause severe oral health problems.

Some problematic conditions

Some of the health conditions may be linked to oral health. They include-

Endocarditis-it is an infection that happens in the inner lining of the heart. If bacteria from your mouth spread through the bloodstream and reaches the damaged areas of your heart, it may happen.

Cardiovascular disease- oral bacteria can result in inflammation and infection is found in case of heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke.

Pregnancy and birth- periodontitis can cause premature birth and low birth weight.

Conditions bad for oral health

Some health conditions may negatively impact your oral health. Such conditions include-

Diabetes-people who suffer from diabetes have reduced resistance to infection and as a result of than a may be at a higher risk of gum diseases. That is why probably gum diseases more frequent and severe in case of people who suffer from diabetes. If you have gum disease, it will be more difficult for you to control your blood sugar levels. If you go for a better and regular periodontal care, it will improve your diabetes control.

Osteoporosis-many suffer from osteoporosis, your bones become weak and brittle. This condition can be linked with periodontal bone loss and tooth loss. Some of the medicines which are used for treating osteoporosis may increase the risk of damage to the bones of the jaw.

HIV/AIDS- people who suffer from HIV or AIDS are more likely to suffer from painful mucosal lesions.

Alzheimer’s disease- as Alzheimer’s disease progresses, the oral health also may get worse.

There are many other health conditions that may have a direct link with oral health include eating disorders, head and neck cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjorgren’s syndrome. These conditions may result in different oral health problem and they also increases the risk of different types of oral health issues in people suffering from such disorders. That is why, it is very important to visit your dentist regularly and to tell him about the medications that you are having. It is also important to tell your dentist about the health changes you are noticing in the recent times.

References

1. Total Dental Health
2. Dental Health
3. Oral Health in Schools