Brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups are critical to your oral health. However, they’re also important for your overall wellness. Your oral health is actually deeply connected to the health of the rest of your body, making your oral hygiene habits a vital part of preventing diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and periodontitis.
The Mouth as a Diagnostic Tool
Your dentist’s focus is your oral health, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t also watching for clues of broader health issues. After all, the mouth can serve as a window into your body’s general health.
Dentists are taught how to detect the early warning signs and symptoms of a wide range of oral and overall health issues. Since some conditions present initially in the mouth, your dentist is often the first line of defence and diagnosis. Their insights can be invaluable to your well-being.
Even though your dentist likely won’t be the one to administer treatment, they can help determine if you need to seek additional care from another specialist or your primary care provider.
Certain autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and lupus, show symptoms in the soft tissue of the mouth. Oral lesions and fluid-filled blisters may appear.
If your dentist sees that you have pale gums and smooth patches on your tongue, you could be anemic. However, you’ll need to have a blood test to be sure.
Early signs of diabetes and osteoporosis can also be detected during a routine dental examination. Gum disease and bacterial infections that do not heal well can point to diabetes, whereas bone loss in the jawbone can be a warning sign for osteoporosis.
The Mouth and Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s natural immune response, but too much inflammation (and for too long) can cause significant damage.
Periodontal disease manifests as severe inflammation in the gums. Poor oral hygiene leads to inflammation and infection in the gums. Although reversible in the early stages (gingivitis), it can cause irreversible destruction of the gums, teeth, and jawbone if left untreated.
However, that level of oral inflammation can influence your overall health. The inflammatory response in your mouth can trigger systemic inflammation, which can then lead to other health complications, like damage to the heart’s vascular system. Chronic inflammation is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and complications from diabetes.
The Mouth and the Heart
There may be a link between gum disease and heart disease. These two diseases are often associated with each other, meaning that those with one are more likely to also have the other. This has caused many to speculate that periodontitis may actually cause cardiovascular disease.
The theory is that bacteria that infect the gums and cause periodontal disease can travel to other parts of the body. After entering the bloodstream via the gum tissue, it is transported to the heart. There, it attacks weakened blood vessel walls, causing more inflammation and damage. The blood vessel walls thicken as a result, further restricting blood flow and heightening blood pressure.
It’s also possible, however, that the correlation between periodontal and cardiovascular disease is not causal. Smoking and age are significant risk factors for both diseases. If you don’t smoke, the connection between cardiovascular disease and tooth loss due to periodontitis is less clear.
The Mouth and the Brain
The bacteria that cause gum disease can also travel to the brain. One study found evidence of the oral bacteria called Porphyromonas gingivalis in the brains of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Furthermore, the oral infection may have preceded the diagnosis of dementia. This suggests that the bacteria may have played a part in the onset of the disease since the bacteria releases enzymes in the brain that destroy nerve cells. This can lead to memory loss.
Once brain fog and cognitive decline set in, it becomes harder to maintain your normal oral health routine. When you’re no longer able to brush and floss effectively, it increases the likelihood of tooth decay, oral infections, and gum disease.
The Mouth and the Digestive System
Digestion begins in the mouth. You need strong, healthy teeth and gums to be able to chew and digest food properly.
When you don’t follow your dentist’s oral health instructions, you put your oral health in jeopardy. Cavities, gum infections, and tooth loss all make chewing much harder and even painful. Brushing twice a day, flossing once daily, and visiting Casa Dental every six months is crucial for keeping your teeth and gums healthy, so you can chew efficiently, effectively, and without pain.
An overabundance of oral bacteria can also exacerbate some digestive health problems. It is a short trip from the mouth to the digestive tract, after all. When bad oral bacteria reach the intestines, they can contribute to inflammation and gut microbiome imbalances.
The Mouth and Sleep
It’s hard to know if you have sleep apnea or sleep bruxism—without someone telling you, at least. Sometimes, that someone is your dentist.
Bruxism is when you clench, gnash, or grind your teeth at night. Over time, this can cause severe damage to your teeth and gums. Repeated clenching and grinding can crack, chip, and wear down your teeth. The enamel can wear down, leaving you more vulnerable to cavities and pain while eating. Additionally, your gums can recede and become exposed to infections.
Dentists are also often the first to spot signs of sleep apnea. Worn tooth surfaces, receding gums, and scalloped edges on the tongue can indicate that you’re having sleep issues.
The Mouth and Pregnancy
Understandably, your hormones change a lot during pregnancy. Some of these hormonal changes affect your oral health. Pregnant people, in particular, have an increased risk of developing gingivitis and gum disease. There’s even a term for this: pregnancy gingivitis!
Gum disease (of which gingivitis is the earliest stage) can also lead to pregnancy and birth complications. Low birth weight, miscarriage, and preterm birth have all been linked to pregnancy-related gum disease.
Protect Your Oral Health With Preventative Care From Casa Dental
Preventative care, which includes your at-home hygiene routine and dental appointments, is extremely important for your oral health and overall wellness. It reduces your risk of tooth decay, inflammation, oral infection, and broader health issues like heart disease, digestive problems, and pregnancy complications.
When you visit Casa Dental for your cleaning and checkup every six months, we look for clues of developing oral and overall health conditions. That way, we can administer prompt treatment for oral health solutions or encourage you to seek additional care from a general healthcare provider.
Professional dental cleanings also help prevent diseases and other health issues from developing in the first place. By removing plaque, tartar, and harmful oral bacteria, we’re taking steps to protect your health for life!
To book an appointment in Toronto, call Casa Dental at 888-920-5324 or contact us here. For a dentist in Mississauga, you can call us at 888-270-8793.
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