Dental health doesn’t seem like it’s related to the rest of your healthcare. Even the insurance is different. You see your doctor for your heart, your lungs, and your blood pressure, and you see your dentist for your teeth. However, your mouth is not a closed system. What happens there affects what happens throughout the rest of the body.
The Mouth as a Window Into Your Health
Your mouth is home to hundreds of species of bacteria. Most are harmless, while some are beneficial. However, when oral hygiene slips, dangerous bacteria can multiply and travel.
Gum disease creates small openings in the tissue lining the mouth. Through those openings, bacteria and the inflammatory compounds they trigger can enter your bloodstream. From there, they can reach the heart, the lungs, the brain, and virtually every other organ and system in the body.
Heart Disease and Stroke
When you think of heart disease and stroke, you probably think of high blood pressure and cholesterol. However, oral health also plays a role here. Patients with gum disease and a history of stroke who had more intensive periodontal treatment showed better outcomes than those who had standard care. Periodontal bacteria can show up in arterial plaque.
Diabetes
People with diabetes are at a higher risk of all types of infection, including periodontal disease. However, severe gum disease can make blood sugar harder to control. Chronic inflammation from gum disease interferes with insulin sensitivity, and treating periodontal disease can improve blood sugar levels.
Respiratory Health
Oral bacteria can also be inhaled directly into the lungs. In healthy people, the respiratory system filters out most of what it encounters. However, older adults, people with compromised immune systems, or anyone already dealing with respiratory conditions, oral bacteria inhaled from the mouth and throat can contribute to pneumonia and other lung infections.
Pregnancy Complications
Hormonal changes during pregnancy make the gums more susceptible to inflammation, which is called pregnancy gingivitis. Left untreated, it can progress to more serious periodontal disease. The problem is that the condition creates an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight.
What You Can Do
The good news is that the same habits that protect your teeth also protect the rest of your body. Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and keeping up with cleanings and exams are important for a white smile, but regular dental care also gives your dentist the chance to spot early signs of gum disease, infection, and other changes before they progress.
If you have diabetes, heart disease, or are pregnant, talk to both your physician and your dentist about how your oral health fits into your overall care. If you live in the Henderson or Las Vegas area, Foutz Family Dentistry offers comprehensive preventive and restorative care backed by four generations of experience. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and make your dental health part of your whole-body health strategy.
