How Healthy Teeth Equal a Healthy Body

How Healthy Teeth Make You Healthy

Did you know that poor dental hygiene isn’t just bad news for your teeth and gums? That’s right. Your dental health is connected to the rest of the body with gum disease linked to a number of health problems in other parts of the body. Practicing good oral hygiene and visiting your dentist in Chicago for regular checkups can keep your teeth and gums healthy and minimize the risks of developing periodontal disease and other infections. Simply put, healthy teeth are very important.

How oral hygiene affects your overall health

Just like other parts of your body, your mouth contains bacteria. While most of them are harmless, if you fail to practice good oral health care, it can be hard to the bacteria under control leading to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease.

How Healthy Teeth Equal a Healthy BodyOver time, inflammation and the chemicals it releases eat away at the gums and bone structure that hold the teeth in place.

If you develop an oral infection, you should visit an oral surgeon to be examined. “But where can I get an oral surgeon near me?” you ask.

Absolutely. Oral surgeons are located all across the country and you can easily find one in your area.

Medical conditions linked to oral health

Your dental hygiene might contribute to various diseases and conditions. Let’s have a look at some of the diseases.

  1. Endocarditis. Endocarditis is a disease that affects the inner lining of the heart. Bacteria from your mouth can spread through your bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in your heart causing an infection. Although rare, endocarditis can be fatal making prevent preventive measures the preferred course of action.
  2. Respiratory illness. When the bacteria in the mouth a breathed in, they may cause pneumonia or other severe respiratory diseases. The presence of bacteria in the airways can also worsen chronic lung conditions.
  3. Cardiovascular disease. There is an independent relationship between gum disease and heart disease. Oral bacteria cause inflammation and infections that can cause or intensify cardiovascular infections.
  4. Rheumatoid Arthritis. Gum disease worsens the pain experienced by individuals with this auto-immune disorder
  5. Pregnancy and birth. During pregnancy and birth, dental hygiene has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.

The mouth serves as a gateway to the rest of the body. Below are some of the health problems that exhibit symptoms in the mouth:

  1. High blood sugar weakens the immune system. As a result, individuals with diabetes are susceptible to secondary infections. This is why gum disease appears to be more frequent and severe among diabetics.
  2. HIV/AIDS. Individuals suffering from HIV/AIDS are likely to experience oral problems, such as painful mucosal lesions, according to the HIVRNATest.Com website.
  3. Alzheimer’s disease. As the disease progresses, it causes the oral hygiene of affected people to deteriorate.

There are lots of other infections that are linked to gum disease. If you develop periodontal disease, gum surgery may be required.

After surgery, the gums will heal and fit more tightly around the tooth.

Wrap-Up

Do note that early warning signs of periodontal disease can be silent.

Regular checkups from an oral surgeon will reduce the chances of developing periodontal disease as well as improve your general well-being and ensure you have healthy teeth.

Visit New York Total Dental for more information.