The Connections Between Dental Health and Wellness
Posted on 7/7/2020 by Mark Bieber
Taking care of your mouth is essential for the prevention of issues such as cavities and gum disease. If these issues develop, you may be left facing cavities and gum disease. These issues do more than just impact the health of your mouth. Oral health issues can also have a major impact on your whole-body health as well. Taking care of your mouth does more than just help you maintain your oral health, it also helps you to keep your entire body healthy as well. Toomin & Bieber Aesthetic Comprehensive Dentistry is here to help.
The Effects of Oral Health on Your Heart Health
When issues like gum disease or cavities go untreated, bacteria can enter into your bloodstream. Once in your bloodstream, the bacteria are then able to travel throughout your entire body. As they move, they trigger an inflammatory response. This causes your arteries to narrow, increasing their risk of becoming clogged. This can lead to high blood pressure and increase your risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke. Bacteria can also cause an infection inside the lining of your heart.
Your Oral Health and Your Lungs
When you have a large number of bacteria in your mouth, your risk for experiencing issues with your lungs greatly increases, especially if you breathe through your mouth. As you breathe in through your mouth, the air can pick up bacteria, which are then drawn into your lungs. Your lungs are a warm, moist environment, which is perfect for harboring bacterial growth. The bacteria from your mouth that enter into your lungs can lead to issues such as pneumonia. They can also worsen already existing lung complications, such as asthma or COPD.
Oral Health and Diabetes
If you have diabetes, your saliva has higher sugar content. This sugar provides food for oral bacteria. Your risk for developing gum disease and cavities increases significantly. If you develop gum disease, your blood sugar levels can become difficult to control. This can cause your blood sugar levels to become dangerously high, which can lead to serious health complications. Even if you do not currently have diabetes, having gum disease can increase your risk of developing it. When you have gum disease, it can impact the ability of your body to properly manage blood sugar regulation.
Taking care of your mouth is about more than just maintaining its health. Good oral hygiene is essential for your whole-body health, too. For more information, call Toomin & Bieber Aesthetic Comprehensive Dentistry at (818) 748-9998 today.