Your Mouth: A Portal to The Rest of Your Body
You’re told to brush your teeth and to floss regularly, but apart from having sparkly white teeth and not having bad breath, what’s the reason for it? Well, for a start, slacking off on oral hygiene means that the bacteria that are normally kept at bay by toothpaste and floss has the chance to multiply to unhealthy levels, which may lead to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. The bad news isn’t limited to your mouth.
There’s lots of research out there that links the bacteria in your mouth to other very serious health conditions. Gum disease increases inflammation in the body, when the body’s inflammation levels are chronically high, severe health conditions may result. When dental hygiene is not maintained, the bacteria in the mouth can multiply and grow out of control. These bacteria can enter the bloodstream and spread to the rest of the body. The following list is just a few of the systemic problems that may be encountered if you let your oral health suffer.
Cardiovascular health
Gingivitis has been shown in several studies to raise your risk of heart disease and stroke. Inflammation is proven to be a major risk factor for heart disease.
Gum disease as a result of plaque bacteria can lead to cardiovascular disease as it may increase the inflammation level throughout the body. According to the Canadian Academy of Periodontology, people with periodontal disease are at greater risk of heart disease and have twice the risk of having a fatal heart attack than people without periodontal disease.
Your dental hygienist should ask you about your heart health and family history of heart disease and conversely, your physician should inquire about your oral health. A problem in one area may signal trouble in the other.
Diabetes
While we are already well aware that people with diabetes are more prone to gum disease, what about vice versa? New studies suggest that serious gum disease may actually contribute to diabetes as it affects blood glucose control. The Canadian Diabetes Association says, “Because periodontal disease is an infection, bacteria produce toxins that affect the carbohydrate metabolism in individual cells. It is also thought that the host response to periodontal bacteria can increase insulin resistance and, therefore, blood glucose levels.”
Pregnancy
Studies show that pregnant women with progressive gum and periodontal disease are more likely to develop gestational diabetes, deliver pre-term or have a low-birth-weight baby.
Erectile Dysfunction
A new study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that periodontitis, a chronic infection of the gums and the main source of bad breath, may cause erectile dysfunction. Since periodontal disease is considered an inflammatory disorder, it may play a role in the progression of ED, or, the disease may just be a marker for other issues previously linked to ED, like poor nutrition, diabetes, and heart disease. Either way, if there’s any chance that a healthy mouth can help with ED, isn’t it worth a try?
Alzheimer’s
This needs further study but recent research has linked poor oral hygiene maintenance with development of alzheimer’s disease.
The results of the early study support a theory that bacteria in the mouth are able to enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body, specifically finding its way to and residing in the brain. The theory also states that these bacteria produce chemicals, which could build up and contribute to the development Alzheimer’s.
Arthritis
Studies indicate that compared to the general population, people with periodontal disease have an increased prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disease is at least two times more prevalent in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
A link has been found between the bacteria responsible for gum disease and earlier onset of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as faster progression and greater severity of the condition.
Bacteria in the joints could exacerbate arthritis. However, more research is needed to prove that mouth bacteria can cause or worsen arthritis.
The evidence linking oral health with overall systemic health is growing and should not be ignored. Even if some of these are disproven as having direct causative relationships, having a healthy mouth is certainly not going to hurt in the long run. The good news is that gingivitis is reversible, once it progresses to periodontal disease however; it is more difficult to treat.
Protect your overall health! Practicing good oral hygiene every day is a good place to start, and partnering with a Registered Dental Hygienist that you trust is another great way to help keep your oral health in optimal shape.