Oral health: a window to general health.

 

Did you know that your oral health offers clues about your general health or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body?

What is the connection between oral health and general health?

Like other areas of the body, your mouth is full of bacteria, mostly harmless. But your mouth is the entry point to your digestive and respiratory tracts, and some of these bacteria can cause illness.

Normally, the body's natural defenses and good oral healthcare, such as daily brushing and flossing, keep bacteria under control. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that can lead to oral infections, such as cavities and gum disease.

Additionally, certain medications, such as decongestants, antihistamines, pain relievers, diuretics, and antidepressants, can reduce saliva flow. Saliva washes away food and neutralizes the acids produced by bacteria in your mouth, which helps protect you from microbes that multiply and lead to disease.

Studies suggest that oral bacteria and inflammation associated with a severe form of gum disease (periodontitis) may play a role in some diseases. And certain diseases, such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS, can reduce the body's resistance to infection, making oral health problems more serious.

What conditions can be related to oral health?

Your oral health can contribute to several diseases and conditions, including:

Endocarditis: This infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers or valves (endocardium) usually occurs when bacteria or other germs from another part of the body, such as the mouth, spread through the bloodstream and attach to certain areas of the body. heart.

Cardiovascular disease: Although the connection is not fully understood, some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries, and stroke could be related to the inflammation and infections that oral bacteria can cause.

Complications during pregnancy and childbirth: Periodontitis has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.

Pneumonia: Certain bacteria present in the mouth can be carried into the lungs and, consequently, cause pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.

There are certain conditions that can also affect your oral health, for example:

Diabetes: By reducing the body's resistance to infection, diabetes puts the gums at risk. Gum disease appears to be more common and severe among people who have diabetes. Research shows that people who have gum disease have more difficulty controlling their blood sugar levels. Frequent periodontal care can improve diabetes control.

HIV/AIDS: Oral problems, such as painful mucosal lesions, are common in people who have HIV/AIDS.

Osteoporosis: This bone-weakening disease is linked to periodontal bone loss and tooth loss. Certain medications used to treat osteoporosis carry a small risk of damage to the jaw bones.

Alzheimer's disease: Worsening oral health is seen as Alzheimer's disease progresses.