Can Oral Health Affect Your Whole Body?

In the past, most people did not perceive oral health as having a direct correlation with the overall health of the body. In fact, that was the case until half a decade ago, when it became more apparent that it would be necessary to take a holistic approach to the diagnosis of diseases, including a thorough review of patients’ oral health.

Such is an approach that has led to the discovery of many facts that have in turn made the management of diseases quite easy.

In a recent study, for instance, it was discovered that patients with gum disease were up to 40 percent more likely to have an accompanying chronic condition. Such are the statistics that should make everyone be extra cautious with their oral health since doing so would not only save them the trouble of suffering from a wide range of illnesses but would also save them a lot of money.

What is the connection between a person’s oral health and their general health?

You would be shocked to know the total number of germs that are living in your mouth. This should not scare you since most of these germs are quite harmless. Brushing on a daily basis and also flossing helps keep the germs under control. If one neglects oral care, however, all hell breaks loose.

The germs begin to multiply at a very rapid rate, and they end up combining with the sugar in the food you consume to make acids. These acids then attack your teeth, leading to the following conditions and diseases:

-    Cavities

-    Gum disease

-    Tooth decay

-    Periodontitis

When your mouth succumbs to any of the above conditions, then the infection spreads to other parts of the body, and causes several problems as discussed below:

Diabetes

Research has established that there is a very strong connection between diabetes and periodontitis. The mere inflammation that happens in the patient’s mouth usually leads to the body lacking the ability to control the blood sugar.

People who have diabetes usually have trouble processing the sugar from the foods that they consume due to the lack of insulin, which is responsible for the conversion of sugar into energy.

Periodontal disease usually complicates diabetes. Oral experts have actually come to an agreement that there is a two-way relationship between diabetes and periodontitis. The high blood sugar resulting from diabetes usually provides very ideal conditions for the inflammation to spread.

Such is good news to all patients since they know that if they control one of the two conditions, then they will end up controlling the other.

Heart Attacks And Strokes

The failure to brush and floss teeth on a daily basis is the main reason behind the build-up of plaque in the mouth. This plaque usually ends up getting into the bloodstream and contributes to the clogging of the arteries in one’s heart. This lodging of the plaque may take quite some time before it can cause any sort of damage, but eventually, it leads to a heart attack or a stroke.

To sum it up, the presence of plaque in the mouth increases a person’s risk of having a heart attack. You can, therefore, minimize such risks by taking good care of your teeth and mouth in general.

Pregnancy

Most pregnant women are usually advised to watch their diet, consume certain nutrients and to also visit a gynecologist for check-ups. It comes as surprise to some of them that despite following all the instructions, their babies end up being born too early, with very low birth weight, or even with very major health problems.

As much as there may be many other causes that lead to premature and low birth weight deliveries, it has been suspected that gum disease plays a major role in the occurrence of these events. Expectant mothers should, therefore, schedule check-ups with their dentist in Nashville TN to minimize the chances of no having a normal baby or delivery.

Conclusion

Can oral health affect your whole body? Yes, indeed! There is more than sufficient scientific evidence to prove that neglecting your oral care will have adverse effects on your body. The effects can be manifested in the form of other diseases and conditions, the increase or spread of existing conditions, and the premature birth of low birth weight babies.

You should, therefore, treat oral health as a body care priority, in a bid to minimize the occurrence of several diseases, including the ones listed above.

Looking for a 100% all-natural liquid tooth oil and mouth rinse? Check out OraMD Original Strength and OraMD Extra Strength. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources make sure to check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By: 

Dr. David Roach is a principal dentist graduated from the University of Tennessee, Memphis, and College of Dentistry. He served three years as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps and came straight to Nashville and has enjoyed Cosmetic Dentistry Nashville since 2000.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay