Yes, it is true, Dental health is closely related to our overall health and unhealthy teeth and gums may cause or point to many serious health issues.
Are Teeth and overall Health related?
While we all believe that a trip to dentist is solely about paying for our sins- eh, the tooth decay, getting teeth whitened, getting a clean up or to repair our crooked teeth, buck teeth or to get the painful root canal done, it isn't just that. Teeth have a more direct relation with the health of our body and a trip to the dentist will help you detect the symptoms of a disease and lead to early treatment.
How, so?
Teeth health is related to overall health by either leading to a disease or leading to the detection of a disease.
Generally, our mouths are filled with bacteria. These bacteria are generally present in the plaque, a soft, sticky deposit, that is formed as soon as we eat. The acids formed by this bacteria destroy the enamel or the outermost covering of our teeth making them vulnerable. Plaque is also responsible for causing bad breath and tooth sensitivity. Good dental habits like brushing and flossing keep the bacteria in control.
Gummy problem
A slip in oral hygiene, dryness in mouth, etc can lead to increase in plaque in our mouth so much that the plaque comes in contact with the gum. This causes tender, swollen gums and bleeding and can lead to a disease called as Gingivitis. If the condition worsens a severe Periodontal disease can occur causing inflammation and releasing chemicals that can cause harm to other parts of the body. Gum disease also gives the bacteria access into the bloodstream causing trouble.
Here are the diseases that are linked to the health of your teeth
Diabetes: Diabetes and gum disease are closely linked. Having diabetes increases the chances of gum diseases, infection, extra dryness in the mouth, cavities and tooth loss. Vice versa, gum disease results in inflammation which causes the body to release a protein called as cytokines that is known to increase insulin resistance, leading to Diabetes. It is also known that diabetes weakens the body’s immune system which can worsen gum disease. Since one third of patients with Diabetes do not even know that they are suffering from it, a trip to the Dentist’s clinic may help detect Diabetes.
Coronary Disease: Those with gum disease are at a risk for heart disease and American Academy of Periodontology says that those suffering from Periodontal disease are twice as likely to suffer from coronary heart disease than others. There are two theories about why it happens, one is that the bacteria that enters the blood stream due to the gum disease, attaches itself to the plaque deposit in the coronary arteries which leads to heart attack. The other theory is that inflammation due to the gum disease causes plaque buildup in the arteries. Both ways bad oral hygiene can result in serious heart complications.
Premature Birth: Research has shown link between gum disease and premature births. The protein cytokines released to fight the inflammation, causes the body to release a hormone called as prostaglandin which triggers the labor, thus a mother who has a gum disease is at a risk of prematurely delivering, low weight babies .
Other diseases linked with dental health:
Osteoporosis: The loss of bone density that occurs during osteoporosis affects the bone in the jaw which leaves the teeth vulnerable to infection. Bone loss in the teeth is one of the first signs of osteoporosis which may be detected during a routine visit to the dentist. Any medication to prevent or treat osteoporosis prevents gum disease too.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system fights its own tissue, in this case- the synovial membrane covering all the joints. Since RA is an inflammatory disease like Periodontal disease, patients with RA are eight times more likely to have a Periodontal disease.
Other diseases: A study has shown that those with Dementia are four times more likely to suffer from gum disease and Alzheimer’s. There is also risk of lung disease and pneumonia in those who have gum disease, especially in the elderly.
Some tips to help you prevent Gum disease:
- Brush twice a day with a toothbrush with soft or medium bristles.
- Clean the space between teeth by flossing every day.
- Do not ignore swollen gums, consult your dentist and get them treated to avoid complications.
- If your gums bleed due to flossing and the bleeding does not stop even after 3-4 days consult your dentist
- Quit smoking and chewing tobacco as both of them cause Periodontal disease and resist treatment of the disease.
- Do not skip your visits to the Dentist, he or she will not only look at your dental health but also help detect many other major diseases.