Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body

Almost everyone hears the same refrain about good oral hygiene habits as children. Be sure to brush and floss, and don’t eat too much junk food, or you’ll end up with cavities.

It’s true, of course, that inadequate oral hygiene often leads to oral health problems such as cavities and gum disease. But your oral health isn’t the only consequence of bad habits. Health problems that start in the mouth can, over time, find their way to other parts of the body. There, they complicate pre-existing problems or even create new ones – underscoring the importance of taking good care of one’s teeth, gums and mouth.

Migration from the Mouth

Though most of it is harmless, our mouths are chock full of bacteria. Insufficient oral hygiene habits can raise the level of harmful mouth bacteria to the point that it may cause infection, such as gum disease and tooth decay. And it so happens that the mouth is the easiest avenue for bacteria to get into other systems of the body. Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, is a particular pernicious problem, causing inflammation that can easily spread.

Other Potential Complications

Though poor oral hygiene is certainly the cause of many health problems that may potentially spread from the mouth to the rest of the body, it isn’t the only cause. Anything that reduces the amount of saliva in the mouth can also create issues, as saliva helps to clear food particles from the mouth and also neutralizes some acids that are produced by bacteria. Among the medications that may cause the body to produce less saliva are:

• Antidepressants
• Antihistamines
• Decongestants
• Diuretics
• Painkillers

Conditions That May Be Caused by Mouth Bacteria

While mouth bacteria caused by inadequate hygiene is not the exclusive cause of any larger diseases, scientists have pinpointed potential connections between bacteria and a variety of illnesses. Among them are:

• Cardiovascular disease: Infections and inflammation that start in the mouth can lead to a variety of cardiovascular problems, including heart disease, clogged arteries and even stroke. In fact, statistics show gum disease doubles a person’s risk of heart attack and triples their risk of stroke.
• Endocarditis: This life-threatening inflammation of the heart’s valves and chambers may result from bacteria traveling from the mouth to the bloodstream.
• Pregnancy complications: Periodontitis has been shown, in some cases, to lead to premature birth weight in pregnant women and/or low birth weight in their newborn babies.
• Respiratory disease: One of the many possible culprits for such respiratory issues as pneumonia is bacteria that has been pulled from the mouth into the lungs.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: Studies have shown that inadequate oral hygiene increases the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, and damage to the gums and teeth caused by poor oral hygiene has been linked to worse symptoms.

Symptoms of Larger Illnesses

Conversely, some diseases may first be spotted because of symptoms that manifest in the mouth. These illnesses include:

• Alzheimer’s disease: Patients with Alzheimer’s often see a decline in their oral health. Experiments on mice have shown that periodontal disease results in higher levels of symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s in humans.
• Cancer: A significant number of cancer patients deal with oral health problems at some point, either from the disease itself or from treatment.
• Diabetes: Periodontitis is more prevalent in individuals with diabetes, and taking good care of the gums has been shown to help people better control their diabetes, including reducing the need for insulin.
• HIV/AIDS: Some of the early symptoms include painful lesions in the mouth. The connections between HIV/AIDS and oral health are numerous, as – like other diseases that affect the immune system – HIV and AIDS make it easier for infection or inflammation to spread.
• Osteoporosis: As it affects bone health, osteoporosis may manifest itself as periodontal bone loss or tooth loss.
• Sjogren’s syndrome: Dry mouth is one of the main symptoms of this immune system disorder, which also causes dry eyes.

Take Good Care of Your Mouth and Teeth

Though the problems caused by insufficient oral hygiene are legion, preventing many of them is a fairly uncomplicated matter. You probably know a lot of the preventative measures off the top of your head: brushing and flossing twice daily, replacing your toothbrush every 3-4 months, limiting sugar food and drinks, using mouthwash, avoiding smoking, and scheduling biannual dental cleanings and checkups.

Helping to Protect Your Teeth – and the Rest of You

No matter how good your brushing and flossing habits may be, regular cleanings make a world of difference in keeping your mouth healthy. If you’re overdue for a cleaning, reach out to our team at Springfield Dental Group today to schedule one!