(Dental Health and General Health are Connected first appeared in the Public Opinion Newspaper in March 2015.)
Did you know your oral health has a direct effect on your general health? Dr. Yonghua Guo, dentist at Keystone Dental Care, shares what you need to know.
It’s all connected
How you care for your teeth has a direct effect on your health in general. If you neglect your gums, this puts you at risk for periodontal disease, or gum disease. Not only does gum disease lead to bad breath, bleeding gums, gum recession, tooth mobility, and eventually tooth loss, but numerous clinical studies demonstrate that gum disease is also closely associated with many other diseases including diabetes and heart disease.
Diabetes
Gum disease can increase your blood sugar level and put you at higher risk to have diabetes compared to people who do not have gum disease. Gum disease can also make diabetes more difficult to be controlled. Diabetic patients with gum disease also have higher risks of other diabetes issues such as eye, kidney and nerve damage. All in all, diabetes control can benefit from good oral health, and oral health can benefit from well-controlled diabetes.
Heart Disease
People who suffer from gum disease tend to have higher risks of developing heart disease. Studies show that bacteria from gum disease in the mouth can spread through the blood and cause a thickening of the walls of the arteries. This can lead to heart attack or vascular disease, which can cause clotting in the carotid artery and lead to stroke. These bacteria can also cause inflammation in the inner layer of the heart, usually involving the valves.
Important Reminders
We are now better able to understand the connection between oral health and health of our bodies as a whole than we were before. If you have diabetes, you are at higher risk to develop oral infections, so antibiotics may be needed for any dental procedures. If you have heart disease, previous heart surgery, artificial valves, pacemaker, shunt or stents placed, you need to let your dentist know. Antibiotic medication may be needed before certain dental procedures.
Take Action
Brushing and flossing is always the best, most economic, and convenient way to keep your mouth healthy. As dentists, we recommend to brush twice a day, floss once a day, and visit your dentist for a periodic exam every 6 months. Properly caring of your teeth and mouth can significantly lower your risk for diabetes and heart disease. It’s never too late to start caring for your teeth; however intervention by a dentist is necessary for moderate or severe gum disease.
For more information about Keystone Dental Care, click here.
