Impact Of Dental Health On Overall Health

People tend to neglect their oral health. This is not surprising in any way. All most of us do is try to brush twice daily and do the occasional flossing. Many times, a dental issue creates awareness for better oral health management. A toothache alone can cause severe pain and headache for a person and might even prevent the person from sleeping. Of course, these issues are major and warrant professional help.

The mouth is only a small part of the body but if proper care is not taken, it can cause problems for the whole of the body. Dental issues can cause series of problem can affect us beyond or physical health. Some dental issues can even affect mental health. This is a clarion’s call to everyone who has been taking their oral health with levity to gear up and observe proper dental hygiene to prevent the occurrence of gum disease, tooth infection, tooth decay, cavity, or any other tooth-related problem.

Prevention is better than cure and this applies to dental health in every way. It costs way less to observe dental hygiene than it costs to treat gum disease or other tooth problems. It also saves you from pain and inconvenience.

How Does Your Dental Health Affect Your Overall Health?

The human body is filled with bacteria. These bacteria can be found on our skin, in our hair, our nails, and in our mouth too. When these bacteria are on the outer part of our body, they are harmless. If they manage to get into the mouth, they can find their way into the different systems in the body (the digestive system, the respiratory system, the reproductory system, the circulatory system, etc). When they get to these places, they can cause diseases for the body.

Normally, we have some bacteria living in the mouth. However, they exist in such a way that they cause no problems for the body. When do they start to cause problems? When oral health deteriorates. Failing to brush your teeth daily can lead to plaque build-up, increasing the risk of cavities. Bacteria in the mouth have a huge role to play in the formation of plaques. Taking sugary substances is also implicated in this pathway. The best way to fight the war against bacteria is by maintaining good oral health or else the body defenses get weak and are subdued by the bacteria.

The saliva is one of the body’s defenses against bacteria. Other than allowing easy passage of the food from the mouth to the intestines, the saliva also stops bacteria from multiplying because when they multiply, they become too much for the body to fight. This is why it is advised that you drink water regularly to keep you hydrated so you can produce more saliva. There are some medications that we take that can reduce the production of saliva in the body. Medications like painkillers, antidepressants, diuretics, etc all reduce the flow of saliva.

Research has revealed that when we do not take care of our oral health and it results in gum diseases or tooth infections, these dental issues could amplify diseases in other parts of the body. The sad thing is that these diseases make the body weaker and unable to fight bacteria so more bacteria are produced and the health condition gets worse.

Effects of Bad Dental Health On The General Health

Here are some of the numerous problems that can arise from poor dental hygiene;

• Endocarditis: An infection that affects the chambers of the heart. It occurs when bacteria travel from the mouth or any other part of the body to the heart.
• Pneumonia: Respiratory disease that happens when bacteria leave your mouth and find their way into your lungs.
• Premature Birth: A severe gum disease called Periodontitis can cause premature birth in people.

There are other problems like diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease that can result from poor oral hygiene. The least you can do for your oral health is to remember to brush your teeth twice daily and use a string of floss regularly. Diet is equally important. Eat healthy meals always. Lastly, visit your dentist regularly.