Good oral health isn’t important for your appearance only but is essential for overall health too. Poor oral hygiene habits have been associated with a plethora of health issues including low birth weight in babies, sleep issues, lung problems, and developmental problems in children. Cavities and gum disease are the contributing factors in some of the very serious condition such as cardiovascular, diabetes and respiratory diseases. Your mouth is full of bacteria all the time but most of these are harmless. Good oral hygiene and overall health keeps the bacteria at the correct levels and helps in avoiding any infections, tooth decay, and gum disease. Many researchers have recently suggested that an unhygienic oral health routine can cause heart disease, clogged arteries and/or stroke. People with periodontal disease also have a problem with blood sugar levels and have a hard time controlling it. Few of the medicines including decongestants, antidepressants, and painkillers can greatly reduce the saliva flow. This can be harmful to your teeth as saliva neutralizes acids produced by the bacteria in the mouth and helps protect from microbial invasion.
Oral health contributes to various diseases including:
Endocarditis – Endocarditis is a type of infection which occurs on the inner lining of the heart. This infection typically occurs when bacteria from other parts of your body spread through the bloodstream and gets attached to your heart.
Cardiovascular disease – Heart disease, clogged arteries, and stroke were linked to inflammation and according to recent studies are caused by infections due to oral bacteria.
Pregnancy and birth – Periodontitis or gum disease can also lead to premature birth and low birth rates. Sometimes, certain condition causes oral health to deteriorate as well.
Diabetes – Body is more prone to infection when you are suffering from diabetes and this can further create issues like gum diseases. People who are suffering from diabetes have gum disease more frequently.
HIV/AIDS – Oral problems including painful mucosal lesions occur to someone suffering from HIV/AIDS.
Osteoporosis – Osteoporosis causes the bones to become brittle, which can lead to periodontal bone loss and tooth loss. Also, a drug used to treat osteoporosis risk damage to the bones of the jaw.
Alzheimer’s disease – As Alzheimer’s progress, the oral health worsens too. Other conditions linked to oral health include eating disorder, arthritis, and cancer. That is why it is recommended you tell your dentist the medications you are taking and information about any disease you may be suffering from.
Complication – Poor oral health and hygiene can lead to gum disease, which can be mild and lead to a more severe problem if left untreated. Periodontal disease causes loss of teeth, infections and many other complications. Thus, it is important that you take care of your oral health, which is a combination of proper daily brushing as well as flossing and regular visits to the dentist. Some people suffer from oral health issues due to crooked teeth, misaligned jaws. This can be corrected by orthodontic procedures and improve their oral hygiene as well.
How can you protect your oral health? Practicing good oral hygiene can protect your oral health:
- Brush twice a day
- Floss daily
- Eat a healthy diet
- Avoid tobacco
- Visit your dentist regularly
It is advised that you contact your dentist as soon as your oral health problem arises. Visit AIMS Dentistry for all your oral health queries as good oral health is an investment for overall health as well.