Health Conditions that affect Teeth and Gums

Studies indicate that poor oral health can lead to increased risks when it comes to certain health conditions, however, it can sometimes be just the opposite with gum disease and tooth decay causing health problems as your mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body.

Your dentist explains that there are quite a few health conditions that will put you in the high-risk category when it comes to gum disease and tooth decay.

Pregnancy

According to the American Dental Association pregnancy, a woman’s hormones will change causing gums to swell, become red, and even bleed. If you are pregnant, it is vital that you brush, floss, and eat good healthy foods to avoid gum disease. Women with gum disease can give birth prematurely or deliver babies who have a low birth weight. If you are planning a pregnancy, see your dentist who can take care of any dental issues beforehand. If you are pregnant continue seeing your dentist, but make sure that he or she is aware of your condition as certain procedures may not be suitable for women who are expecting.

Diabetes

Although maintaining low blood sugar is a struggle for some diabetics, so is gum disease as the high levels of blood sugar can cause mouth infections. If left untreated those infections could cause serious and even permanent damage to your gums and jawbone. Severe gum disease, known as periodontal disease, will cause tooth loss if not taken care of. If you are a diabetic, keep your levels in check and make sure to schedule an appointment with your dentist if you have mouth pain, sores, red, or bleeding gums.

Obesity

Your dentist explains that being overweight or obese can cause dental problems in two ways. Firstly, people who are obese make poor food choices. Those food choices are usually loaded with sugar. Sugar will increase the risk of health problems and tooth decay. Secondly, a high body fat count could be to blame for speeding up the process. Two recent studies have shown that periodontal disease progresses faster in obese people than people of average or normal weight.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition that causes fragile bones, including the jawbone. If you have osteoporosis, your bones will become weaker which could eventually lead to tooth loss. Research indicates that women could have a higher risk as those with osteoporosis have a higher rate of gum disease.

Cancer

Cancer on its own will not cause any oral health issues, however, cancer treatments can. Studies have shown that over a third of all cancer patients will experience a dental complication of some kind as a direct result of the treatment. Some common issues include changes in taste, oral infections, dry mouth, and inflammation. If you are being treated with chemotherapy or radiation for cancer, it is important to schedule regular dental appointments to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

The Mouth and Body Connection

Your teeth and gums are just as important as the rest of your body, and if you are slack with your oral hygiene habits, you could be asking for trouble.

The American Dental Association explains that brushing twice and flossing once each day should be part of your oral health routine. You should also follow a good diet with plenty of fruits and veggies. Include dairy products as well for strong bones and teeth. Of course, regular dental checkups, twice a year or more so if you are susceptible to tooth decay or gum disease, should also be added to the mix.

The health of your mouth is a reflection of your entire body as your mouth really is the gateway to the rest of your body.

Regular checkups can tell your dentist quite a bit about the rest of your body, including whether or not you could be at risk when it comes to chronic disease.

Poor Oral Health Can Affect your Overall Health

Recent studies have suggested that your mouth mirrors the rest of your body as a whole. In other words if your mouth, teeth and gums are healthy, your overall health is probably good as well. On the other hand, poor oral health could indicate other health issues.

The Academy of General Dentistry explains that there is a relationship between stroke and heart disease and periodontitis. Perodontitis is the more serious form of gum disease and can cause other health implications as well. Studies also show that pregnant women who have gum disease are more likely to give birth prematurely.

Other research is showing that over 90 percent of all systemic diseases have oral manifestations including dry mouth, mouth ulcers, and gum problems. 

Some of the diseases include: 

• Diabetes
• Oral Cancer
• Leukemia
• Kidney Disease
• Heart Disease 

If you have regular checkups with your dentist, he or she may be able to spot or even diagnose a health problem in the early stages.

Keeping your mouth healthy should be a priority, and if you can’t remember the last time you saw your dentist, call or click and schedule an appointment today.