Oral health, although considered separately from general health, is basically quite interlinked. In fact, it can say that the condition of your teeth and gums can really go a long way towards affecting your overall well-being.
Some of the things it affects are the comfort of eating and speaking and even the risk towards other serious health issues. Here is an insight into the linkage of oral health to the body's well-being.
Your mouth is the entry of both the digestive system and the respiratory system, so it’s essential to maintaining good health. The bacteria present in the mouth are free to enter the circulation of blood with a little friction, which can cause infection and provoke inflammation in other parts. Thus, it is very important that oral health has a big part in preventing many systemic diseases.
Evidence-based research has established the relationship that exists between gum disease or periodontitis and heart disease. The periodontal infection may lead to an increase in the risk of developing hardening of the arteries, which causes heart attack and stroke. Inflammation caused by gum infection may also lead to endocarditis, a type of infection of the inner lining of the heart.
Diabetes and dental health are related to each other in a bi-directional manner; each has a bearing on the other. Infections – like gum disease – are more severe likely where there is an underlying diabetic state in the patient. Simultaneously, acute gum disease interferes with the smooth maintenance of blood sugar levels to a systemic illness in a vicious cycle.
High blood sugar levels significantly raise the chances of getting gum disease.
Gum disease leads to the increased sugar levels, which can complicate the treatment of diabetes.
Proper oral hygiene, therefore, cannot be overemphasized among people with diabetes.
Poor oral health may also compromise the respiratory system. Bacteria can be inhaled into the lungs due to infected tissues or infected tooth bodies, thus possibly causing respiratory infections, pneumonia, or exacerbation of chronic conditions such as COPD. This, therefore, calls for the most meticulous oral hygiene maintenance among older adults and those with some kind of immunodeficiency.
Oral health combinations compound any existing respiratory conditions. Preventive dental care decreases your exposure to the factors that will be detrimental to your respiratory health.
The dental health of an expectant woman is very vital because hormonal changes in the body tend to make the expectant mother more susceptible to gum disease. Pregnant women who develop gingivitis run a more significant risk of experiencing complications that may lead to delivering a baby prematurely or otherwise giving birth to a low birth weight baby.
Dental care in pregnancy is necessary to ensure that both the expectant mother and her baby remain healthy.
Other relationships that have been drawn between mental health and oral health are that stress, anxiety or depression can lead to poor hygiene like not brushing teeth properly or reduced frequency of brushing, not flossing that causes dental issues, but at the same time, dental issues may further impact self-esteem, which in return might result in mental health, hence cyclic in nature.
For overall well- nourished oral health and then again oral health promotes good nutrition. Dental problems like loss of teeth, periodontal disease, decay, etc., all hinder proper intake of a balanced diet, and as a result, people end up with nutritional deficiencies leading to other health problems.
Oral health greatly influences quality of life. Dental pain, missing teeth, or gum disease imparts a decline on the ability to eat, speak, and relate socially. Such conditions would usually result in embarrassment, and so the person would tend to avoid social settings, leading to a decrease in overall satisfaction levels in life.
Preventative Measures for the Best Oral and General Health
The best health that is associated with oral and general sites can be prevented by some preventatives. There is nothing important for this, therefore, than the regular cleaning of the tooth and covering it with periodic checking. Also, avoiding tobacco, cutting down on foods and drinks that have high sugar content, and properly managing stress can prevent oral problems from spreading into your body.
Key in maintaining good oral health and general health: regular visits to the dentist, good oral hygiene, and a healthy lifestyle.
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