Fact: Good Overall Health Depends On Good Oral Health
It is common knowledge that good oral hygiene is important for preventing cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss. We learn about this all our lives, starting from early childhood. However, our general dental care education often fails to explore the vital link between oral and overall health. The fact of the matter is that oral health impacts overall health in important and sometimes surprising ways. Let’s explore some of them.
Your Oral Health Is a Window to Your General Health
The health of your teeth and gums can provide many clues about your overall health:
Conditions like gum disease are linked to systemic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory infections because the harmful bacteria that cause gum disease can easily travel throughout your body.
Your dentist can tell if you are a mouth breather just by examining your teeth. Mouth breathing is a symptom of airway problems, including obstructive sleep apnea, a condition with serious health consequences.
Research shows that inflammation in your mouth can affect other parts of your body, leading to systemic inflammation, which can have serious, widespread repercussions.
Most people understand that chronic diseases affecting blood circulation and metabolism, such as diabetes, can make you more susceptible to infections like gum disease. But did you know that poor oral health can make it harder to control blood sugar?
Oral Health and Pregnancy
Maintaining oral health is especially crucial during pregnancy, as hormonal changes can increase the risk of gum disease and other oral health issues. We also know that poor oral health during pregnancy has been associated with preterm birth and low birth weight. That is why we encourage our expecting patients and those planning to start a family in the near future to visit us for cleanings and examinations as normal and call us right away if they notice anything unusual with their oral health.
Good oral hygiene, including brushing and flossing regularly and visiting Vargas and Associates for regular examinations, plays a vital role in preserving oral and overall health. We aim to help our patients better understand this connection and encourage them to consider us as an essential part of their healthcare team. If you are due for a cleaning and examination or have any concerns about your oral health, please call our office located in Bowie, MD. We are here for your health!
