Did you know that your oral hygiene has a significant impact on your overall health? Most people assume that when they don’t take good care of their teeth, it only impacts their smile. However, there’s a lot that your dental health contributes to your overall wellbeing than you may ever realize. Taking good care of your teeth is not only important to have a beautiful smile but it could impact your whole body. If you don’t pay attention to your teeth, your body will suffer as you put yourself at risk of serious health issues in the future.
How oral and overall health is connected?
One of the main goals of brushing and flossing the teeth daily is to keep control of the bacteria in the mouth. The mouth has significant levels of bacteria and if proper oral hygiene is lacking, it can lead to serious health problems. When the bacteria in your mouth combine with sugar in the food you consume, it forms acids. The acids attack parts of the tooth causing severe decay, gum disease and sometimes puts you at risk of serious oral conditions like periodontitis.
Poor oral hygiene is also said to put you at risk of the following health conditions:
Heart disease
Bad oral habits can lead to conditions like heart attacks and strokes. This happens when there’s a build-up of plaque on the teeth. Plaque can get into the bloodstream and block the arteries just the same way that cholesterol does. When this happens, you risk getting heart conditions like stroke.
Additionally, bacteria that build up in the mouth and ends up attacking the teeth and gums can cause serious gum disease, which is commonly known as gingivitis. In advanced stages, the bacteria that cause gingivitis can also move to the bloodstream. When this bacteria travels throughout the rest of the body and gets to the heart, it’s said to put you at risk of a heart condition known as endocarditis. This is a deadly infection that affects the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves.
Diabetes
Periodontitis, a condition that causes inflammation of the gums, can worsen the symptoms of diabetics. This is because with periodontitis, the body is unable to absorb insulin medication properly. This medication is meant to reduce sugar levels in the blood. High blood sugar levels in blood worsen the infections in the mouth causing even more inflammation. This is why diabetics are always encouraged to maintain good oral hygiene.
Pneumonia
An unhealthy level of bad bacteria in the mouth can also put you at risk of respiratory infections like pneumonia. This is because the air we breathe flows through the mouth and into your lungs. Respiratory problems like pneumonia can become deadly especially when they affect an older person.
Additionally, pregnant women should maintain good oral hygiene since conditions like periodontitis put them at risk of giving birth to babies prematurely. Maintaining good oral health is important during pregnancy as it protects both you and the baby from serious conditions.
