Did you know that what happens in your mouth could impact your overall health? Not only does your mouth allow you to intake food for fuel, it houses a plethora of bacteria. If these bacteria are not kept in check, they can wreak havoc both inside and outside your oral cavity. Take gum disease, for example. During its early stage, this inflammatory disease makes your gums swell, appear red, and bleed, but if left untreated gum disease can lead to permanent damage to your bone and tooth loss. As serious as these consequences are, gum disease’s impact goes far beyond your mouth. In this post from your dentist in Westhampton, you’ll learn how your oral health is related to your overall health.
Why You Need a Healthy Mouth
Your mouth serves a critical function for your body. Your teeth chew and grind the food you need to provide fuel for everything you do. When something hinders your ability to do this, such as a painful toothache from decay or loose or missing teeth from untreated gum disease, you aren’t able to efficiently chew your food for digestion. Over time, your loss in biting power can mean that you avoid foods that are difficult to chew, leading you to choose a diet of less nutritious alternatives. In fact, research has indicated that those who wear dentures, which provide significantly less biting force than natural teeth, have a reduced life expectancy by 10 years.
Gum Disease and Diabetes
In the mouth, gum disease and diabetes share similar symptoms of bleeding, red, and swollen gums. In fact, patients who have diabetes are significantly more likely to get gum disease than those who don’t. Also, on the other hand, research shows that patients who have gum disease experience more difficulty in controlling their blood sugar levels. Regular periodontal treatment can help keep your diabetes under better and healthier control.
Gum Disease and Heart Health
Gum disease causes inflammation in the gums. So how does it impact your heart? When the gums bleed, the bacteria causing the swelling can easily enter your bloodstream and spread to other areas of the body, triggering inflammation elsewhere. This effect can restrict blood flow and increase the chances of a cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke. In fact, those with gum disease are two to three times more likely to have a serious cardiovascular event as people without this oral condition.
Gum Disease and Alzheimer’s
Recent studies have shown that the same bacteria that cause gum disease appear in the brains of those who have this progressive condition, which currently has no cure. It’s possible that the bacteria enter the bloodstream, travel to the brain, and create inflammation, leading to Alzheimer’s symptoms.
In the end, taking care of your mouth may have significant outcomes for your long-term health. Whether it’s treating gum disease or getting a root canal, your dentist can help you get back on the path to oral health. It’s worth taking the time and effort to maintain your mouth so that you can give your body the best chances for health for many years to come.
About the Practice
At Beach Dental, three skilled dentists provide a wide range of dental services to patients of all ages in the Westhampton area. Drs. Alexis Gersten, Jason Parli, and Daniel Lim have years of experience, unique skills, and specialties that they bring to the practice, but all are dedicated to helping patients keep their smiles healthy. To schedule an appointment with them or to ask them about oral health, you can call (631) 325-0731 or click here.