The link between your oral and general health

The link between your oral and general health is a major focus for us at SHDC. The mouth is really like a window into the body. It provides us with a preview of what your overall health may be and can reveal a lot about what is going on inside . Aside from being a cavity that sets out signs of impending illness, the mouth can also influence your overall health.

With that, never underestimate the personal relationship between your oral health and your physical state. Sometimes, what’s lurking inside your mouth is the main cause of a disease going on inside the body.

Mouth-Body Connection

Bacteria.  That is one thing that your mouth, and all other parts of your body, have in common. Bacteria thrive in every single part of your body – good and bad bacteria. Good bacteria acts as your body’s natural defence system. Teamed with good oral care like flossing and brushing, you are able to control these bacteria and work with them for good general and oral health. On the other hand, if proper hygiene goes unattended, these bacteria can multiply and cause infections, gum disease and decay.

Linking the Health Conditions

Oral health can either contribute to or affect different kinds of diseases or conditions, namely:

1. Pregnancy

Low birth rate and premature birth can be due to periodontitis.

2. Endocarditis

Defined as the infection of the endocardium (the heart’s inner lining), endocarditis happens when germs or bacteria originating from other parts of the body, like your mouth, passes through the bloodstream and attaches to the lining; thus the heart gets damaged.

3. Heart disease

There are researches suggesting stroke, clogged arteries and other forms of heart diseases are connected to oral infections and inflammations caused by bacteria.

4. Osteoporosis

A condition where the bones become brittle and weak, osteoporosis is also sometimes connected with periodontal tooth loss and bone loss.

5. Diabetes

When diabetes strikes, the body becomes more vulnerable to infection which creates a huge threat to the gums. One way to detect if a person is suffering from increased sugar level is if they have a gum disease that doesn’t simply go away.

Safeguarding Oral Health

Having good oral health is key to preventing forms of diseases from inflicting the body. There are a couple of ways that you can promote proper oral health, including:

• Regularly brush your teeth, make it at least twice every day.
• Eat healthy food like fruits, veggies, good fats and proteins.
• Toothbrushes must be replaced every three months.
• Floss once a day, every day.
• Visit your oral hygienist at least every 6 months

Most importantly, if you perceive any kind of oral problem, check with your dentist as soon as it arises. Do not take your oral health for granted.