Dental health and the connection to the whole body
Did you know that good dental health affects not only our smile, but also our heart, blood sugar, and even pregnancy?
In recent years, scientists have increasingly actively investigated the relationship between oral health and the general condition of the body.
Bacteria that accumulate on teeth make gums susceptible to infections.
The immune system tries to keep them under control, but if it fails, the gums become inflamed, the bone structure that holds the teeth is damaged, and the so-called periodontitis develops – inflammation that has an effect on the entire body.
Stay with AllDental to learn more about the connection between dental health and our body!
Dental health and diabetes
In diabetes, the body has difficulty controlling blood sugar levels because it doesn’t have enough insulin, the hormone that turns sugar into energy.
Inflammation that occurs in the oral cavity weakens this control. And as you might guess, high blood sugar provides an ideal environment for the infection to spread from the gums to other organs.
A vicious circle results, which worsens the condition of both good dental health and the body as a whole.
Dental health and the heart
Up to 91% of heart disease patients have periodontitis. The theory is that an infection in the mouth causes inflammation of the blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke.
As a result, inflamed vessels impede blood flow between the heart and the rest of the body and lead to an increase in blood pressure.
Dental health and pregnancy
Although there are many factors that may contribute to the birth of premature and low birth weight babies, research suggests that mouth sores are also a possible cause.
This is because a hormonal imbalance occurs during pregnancy, which increases the risk of periodontitis.
That is why it is important to visit a dentist before or at the beginning of pregnancy to determine if you are in a risk group.
Take care of your health and that of your baby – book your preventive check-up with AllDental today and make sure your dental health is in good condition!
Dental health and bones
What osteoporosis and periodontitis have in common is bone loss, but this relationship is controversial.
Osteoporosis affects the long bones of the arms and legs, while gum disease affects the jaw.
There are claims that osteoporosis occurs mainly in women, and periodontal disease is more common in men.
However, it has been definitively established that women with osteoporosis develop periodontitis more often than those who do not have this disease.
One hypothesis is that inflammation in the mouth may weaken bones in other parts of the body.
Dental health and smoking
Most likely, when we were little, we were all told that smoking was the biggest enemy of our dental health.
And it’s a fact – smokers are 3 times more likely to get gum disease. Nicotine constricts blood vessels and makes it harder to fight infection.
In addition, recovery after dental interventions is significantly slower.
Other health risks
Periodontitis can also affect different parts of the body:
- Rheumatoid arthritis – The chronic inflammation that causes periodontitis. It increases inflammatory processes in the joints, accelerating the progression of arthritis.
Send feedb - Lung diseases – Bacteria from the mouth can reach the lungs and increase the risk of pneumonia or exacerbation of chronic respiratory conditions.
- Obesity – Studies show that high body fat creates a favorable environment for the development of periodontitis and makes it difficult to control inflammatory processes.
All these examples show that oral hygiene shouldn’t just be about aesthetics – it has a real impact on the health of the entire body.
What to do for prevention?
The good news is that many of these risks can be reduced through simple daily habits and regular preventive dental health measures:
- Brush and floss your teeth regularly – The rule here is 2 times a day for 2 times a brighter smile. This removes plaque, which is a major source of bacteria.
- Preventive dental checkups – Again, at least twice a year, and for people at increased risk (diabetes, pregnancy, smokers), we recommend that checkups at a dental clinic be more frequent.
- Blood sugar and weight control – For people with diabetes or a tendency to be overweight, because they are more susceptible to periodontitis and complications.
- Quitting smoking – This is definitely something more difficult to achieve, but even small signs like bleeding or redness of the gums should not be ignored.
By building these habits, you will not only protect your smile, but you will also reduce the risks to your overall health.
Taking small steps in caring for your dental health will have a big effect on your entire body!