subject: Understanding The Link Between The Health Of Your Mouth And Your Overall Health [print this page] Your oral health is integral to your general health as it is essential to your overall health and wellbeing. With an early identification of oral disease, this may contribute to the early diagnosis and treatment of a number of systemic diseases. By understanding the connection between your oral and overall health you can better protect yourself.
Our mouths are teeming with bacteria - most harmless. The body's natural defenses and good oral health care can keep these bacteria under control, but harmful bacteria can sometimes grow out of control causing oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Additionally, dental procedures or medications that reduce saliva flow can also disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in your mouth. This can also breach the mouth's normal protective barriers, which makes it easier for these harmful bacteria to enter into your bloodstream, affecting your overall health.
Many signs and symptoms of potentially life-threatening disease appear in the mouth first. Your dentist and dental hygienist routinely screen for these warning signs in order to prevent the worsening of symptoms, which can lead to complications in your body. So the next time you skimp out on brushing and flossing, or your regular dental visits think twice - you may be doing more damage than you realize.
Diabetes and Your Oral Health
Diabetes is a disease that has an important relationship with periodontal disease. Serious, costly, and increasingly common chronic disease, diabetes affects approximately 23.6 million children and adults in the United States. The development of periodontal disease has long been considered a major complication of diabetes. Research, according to the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA), has indicated that approximately 95 percent of Americans who have diabetes also have periodontal disease. It is also shown that people with periodontal disease have more difficulty controlling their blood sugar level.
Severe periodontal disease (Periodontitis) can also increase your risk of developing diabetes if you do not already have it. It is crucial that those suffering from diabetes maintain regular oral health care visits to their dentist in addition to following a customized home-care routine to keep their blood sugar levels in check.
Oral Health and Heart Disease
One of the best reasons to take care of your mouth is that periodontal disease almost doubles your chances of suffering from coronary artery disease, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. Researchers suggest that oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream, attaching to fatty plaques in the heart's blood vessels, which eventually causing clot formation. Another theory is that the inflammation in your gums can contribute to swelling in your arteries.
How to Protect Your Oral Health
To protect your oral health, and ultimately your overall health, it is important to practice good oral hygiene every day:
*Brush twice a day
*Floss daily
*Replace your toothbrush every three to four months
*Eat a healthy diet
*Limit between-meal snacks
*Schedule regular dental checkups
Be sure to watch for signs and symptoms of oral disease and contact your dentist as soon as a problem arises. Remember, taking care of your oral health is an investment in your overall health. Begin now with a trip to your dentist.
