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Good oral health is more than clean teeth and avoiding cavities. The mouth is a gateway to your body’s overall health. Besides cavities, poor dental hygiene can have a profound impact on your health and longevity. There is mounting evidence that shows an association between poor dental hygiene and a wide variety of illnesses.
Gum Disease
If your gums bleed when you brush and floss your teeth, you likely have gum disease. Gingivitis, the milder form of gum disease, causes bleeding. When plaque build-up spreads, the immune response heightens, destroying tissues and bones in the mouth, creating pockets between the teeth that can become infected. At this stage, gum disease becomes periodontitis that damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports your teeth. Periodontitis can lead to tooth loss, and although common, it is usually the result of poor oral hygiene and largely preventable.
Tooth Loss
One in five Americans don’t brush their teeth twice daily, and roughly half don’t floss daily. An oft-quoted saying dentists use is, “You don’t have to brush all of your teeth, just the ones you want to keep”. Both cavities and gum disease can cause tooth loss.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a risk factor for those with periodontitis. Research indicates that poor dental health may be a risk factor for insulin resistance diabetes. For those who live with both conditions may improve diabetes control by controlling periodontitis.
Kidney Disease
According to a study cited in the American Journal of Kidney Disease, people with periodontitis may be at significant risk for kidney disease, even after controlling underlying health conditions that contribute to both.
Heart Disease
Studies suggest a connection between gum disease and heart disease. People with gum disease are twice as likely to have coronary artery disease. Doctors think the bacteria in your mouth enter your bloodstream and attach to plaque in your arteries, which causes inflammation, increasing your chances for developing blockages that lead to heart attacks. Daily oral care is crucial and possibly reduces coronary heart disease.
Dementia
Researchers have discovered that people who don’t brush their teeth regularly were up to 65 percent more likely to have dementia. Bacteria associated with poor dental hygiene may spread to the brain through the cranial nerve that connects to the jaw through the bloodstream.
Regular Dental Check Ups
Even the healthiest patients need regular dental checkups for good oral health. There may be areas in your mouth with underlying problems that you can’t see on your own.
