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This post is by Anthony Savage of Sparta Health

Visiting dentists every six months will not be entertaining for most people, but its something you shouldn’t avoid. Dental awareness programmes have been successful to educate people about oral health, however, the link between general health and oral health is rarely discussed. Here we are going to discuss why it's important to attend the dentist and how it will aid in your overall health and wellbeing.

Did you know that your mouth gives hints about your overall health or that poor oral health can affect the rest of your body?   

What is the link between our oral health and general health?

Our mouth harbours a lot of bacteria and other microbes, mostly normal and harmless. Proper oral hygiene maintenance keeps its level under control. When you don't brush your teeth properly, it leads to the formation of plaque which in course solidifies to forms tartar. This along with the acid produced by the multiplying bacterial colony cause cavities, gum problems and periodontitis (severe gum infection) which can cause other systemic diseases.

Health Problems Associated With Poor Oral Health

Diabetes

Research has show that diabetes and periodontitis have a bidirectional relationship; severe periodontitis patients have poor glycemic control and hyperglycemia increases the risk of periodontitis [1]. Increased bone loss, abscess formation and poor healing is associated with diabetic individuals [2]. Removal of plaque and tartar along with oral antibiotics have shown reduce periodontitis and good control over blood sugar levels [1]. Therefore prevention and rapid treatment of periodontitis in diabetic patients may help to avoid severe complications with this chronic disease [3]

Cardiovascular diseases

Some research suggests a link between the inflammation caused by bacteria in mouth and certain heart diseases [4]. Patients with poor oral hygiene often have severe gum swelling, which can bleed and lead to bacteremia (bacteria in blood) and endocarditis (inflammation of inner lining of heart and valves). Studies say that during episodes of dental bacteremia, certain bacterial group can induce blood clotting leading to heart blockage [5,6].

Birth complications during pregnancy

Pre-term birth and low birth weight is a well studied obstetric complication associated with periodontitis, the presence of periodontal disease in the mother results in a 7.5 times greater risk of this complication [2]. Pregnancy is associated with hormonal changes which cause enlargement of gums and inflammation. Several changes in oral microflora occur in conjunction with this including an increase in the number of anaerobic bacteria. Research shows that these anaerobic bacteria initiate an inflammatory process with systemic impacts which may result in the muscles of uterus contracting and pre-term birth [5].

Pneumonia

Air enters through your mouth and reaches the lungs, so if your mouth harbours bad bacteria it could easily reach lungs. Elderly patients should take care of their mouth and dentures as pneumonia could be life-threatening to them.

Apart from these, there are many general illnesses that have oral manifestations.

Let's examine these:

Osteoporosis

This disease is characterised by bone weakening. Oral manifestation cause periodontal bone loss, tooth loss and decreased density of jawbones.

HIV/AIDS

Oral problems and mucosal lesions are common with AIDS patients.

Alzheimer’s disease

Oral health worsening is seen in line with Alzheimer progression.

Medications

Many medications (such as treatments for high blood pressure and epilepsy) that lead to dry mouth, therefore, increase an individual’s risk of dental decay and periodontal disease. This may increase the rate of tooth loss.

Anxiety

Anxiety is associated with teeth grinding and jaw clenching which may cause premature tooth wear, tooth cracking and damage to fillings, jaw disorders and headaches.

How Can You Benefit From Attending Dental Appointments?

Poor oral health can affect your quality of life. Garcia reported that the greater the number of missing teeth, the poorer the quality of life [7]. Dental pain, infections or missing teeth can influence the way you speak, eat and socialise. As a result, these oral health problems can negatively affect your physical, mental and social well-being

A dentist will check every aspect of your mouth and will look for problems hiding from your eyes. Filling of cavities and regular cleaning will save you from painful sleepless nights and bleeding gums. A dentist could check for any oral impairments caused by your habits which you haven’t noticed yet, for example nail biting, clenching teeth, mouth breathing and so on.

With regular dental checkups, your dentist can keep an eye out for oral cancer and catch it at its earliest stage, to ensure you receive early treatment.

In addition to the teeth, gums and tongue, the dentist also checks the neck, temporomandibular joint, and lymph nodes beneath the jaw for abnormalities. Abnormalities could be a sign of underlying health condition, for which the dentist could refer you to a specialist if needed.

Dentists and dental professionals are dedicated to providing good oral health which, as discussed is very important to maintaining your overall health, wellbeing and quality of life.

About Anthony Savage 

Anthony Savage is the Medical Services Manager at Sparta Health, having joined the team in 2017 and is responsible for the overall operational delivery of our high quality services to our clients. He has a solid background in workplace physiology, as well over 12 years of delivering, and holding senior management positions, for leading injury and condition management providers.

He is known for his innovative approach in his design and execution of services and his ability to build enduring relationships.

References 

  1. Kuo LC, Polson AM, Kang T. Associations between periodontal diseases and systemic diseases: a review of the inter-relationships and interactions with diabetes, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis. Public Health. 2008
  2. Scannapieco FA. Systemic effects of periodontal diseases. Dent Clin North Am. 2005
  3. Jeffcoat MK, Jeffcoat RL, Gladowski PA, Bramson JB, Blum JJ. Impact of periodontal therapy on general health: evidence from insurance data for five systemic conditions. Am J Prev Med. 2014
  4. Genco RJ, Glurich I, Haraszthy V, Zambon J, DeNardin E (2001) Overview of Risk Factors for Periodontal Disease and Implications for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease. Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry (Special Issue)
  5. Amar S, Han X. The impact of periodontal infection on systemic diseases. Med Sci Monit. 2003
  6. Haumschild MS, Haumschild RJ. The importance of oral health in long-term care. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2009
  7. Garcia RI, Henshaw MM, Krall EA. Relationship between periodontal disease and systemic health. Periodontol 2000.

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