8 DISEASES RELATED TO DENTAL HEALTH

 

8 DISEASES RELATED TO DENTAL HEALTH

Many have the impression that dental health is a single thing and is not connected or combined with our general health. This is also a very basic reason why people only go to the dentist when they need a tooth fixed or are in a lot of pain. The truth is, however, that dental health can tell us many things about our general state of health.

Did you know that the problems of our gums, teeth, and in general our mouth, can have a serious impact on the good functioning of the rest of our body?

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How dental health is connected to our general health

Like many other parts of our body, our mouth is full of bacteria. Fear not though! Most of them are harmless. But because our mouth is the main entrance to our respiratory and digestive systems, some of these bacteria can cause disease.

However, this is not the only reason. There are specific medications (antidepressants, diuretics, painkillers, antihistamines, and decongestants) that reduce saliva production. Saliva, in addition to helping us clean food and neutralize acids caused by bacteria in our mouths, also helps protect us from germs that would otherwise multiply and lead to illness.

Research has shown that oral bacteria and the inflammation associated with periodontitis may play an important role in some diseases. In fact, in certain diseases, such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS, they can lower the body's resistance to infection, and this can make oral health problems even worse.

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Let's now see which diseases are linked to oral health.

What are the diseases that your dental health contributes to creating:

Endocarditis

This infection of the inner lining of the heart valves usually happens when bacteria or germs travel from your mouth (or some other part of your body) into your circulatory system, and 'stick' to specific areas of your heart .

Cardiovascular disease

Even if the link to this disease is not yet fully understood by scientists, some research shows that heart disease, clogged arteries, and stroke may be linked to inflammation and infections caused by oral bacteria.

Pneumonia

Certain bacteria in your mouth can be attracted to your lungs, and can cause pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses.

What are the diseases that, if you have, can contribute to the deterioration of your dental health:

Diabetes

Diabetes puts our gums at risk by reducing our body's resistance to infection. Gum disease is more common and more severe in patients who have diabetes.

HIV/AIDS

Painful lesions of the mucous membrane and problems of the mouth in general are very common phenomena in patients with HIV/AIDS.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis has been linked to tooth and periodontal bone loss. Certain medications used to treat osteoporosis have the risk of damaging the jaw bones.

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Alzheimer's

Dental health that continues to deteriorate has been linked to the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

There are many other diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis, eating disorders, and certain types of cancer) that can cause dry mouth.

The best thing we can do is ask our dentist if the medications we are taking are causing any dental conditions and talk about changes in our general health, especially if we have any chronic conditions.

Don't wait until your dental health gets worse to talk to your dentist. Do it today!