Your oral and general health are inextricably linked. Dental issues like gum diseases, cavities, bad breath, among other factors can harm your general health. Bacteria can enter the bloodstream through the mouth causing infections or inflammation in other parts of the body.

Therefore, taking good care of your mouth can help maintain a healthy body and avoid serious problems in the future.

In this article, our dental health experts at Focus Dental Group in Midvale, Utah, explain how dental health and general health are interrelated.

Relation Between Oral Health and Your Body

Below are some of the health issues that connect your oral health and body:

  • Dementia

The brain can be affected by poor oral health. Gums that are inflamed or infected emit substances that can destroy brain cells and cause memory loss. Bacteria in the mouth can travel to the nerve pathways of the body or enter the bloodstream, causing dementia and even Alzheimer’s disease.

  • Diabetes

People with type 2 diabetes have a greater risk of periodontitis or gum disease. There are a few possibilities on why this is the case.

According to some studies, if mouth infections get serious, they can produce low-grade inflammation throughout the body, which may disrupt your sugar-processing abilities.

  • Pregnancy Complications

It’s critical that expecting moms maintain proper dental hygiene. Hormonal changes in the body during pregnancy might make women more likely to get mouth infections. Any infection during pregnancy raises the mother’s chance of having a difficult pregnancy or delivery.

Premature delivery and low birth weight in infants have also been linked to oral health issues in the mother, such as periodontitis and gingivitis. Gum disease puts both the mother and the baby at risk of major health problems.

  • Kidney Disease

Kidney disease can also be caused by infections in the body, such as periodontal disease. Patients with gum disease typically have weakened immune systems and are more susceptible to kidney infections.

  • Cardiovascular Disease

Bacteria from plaque buildup can enter the bloodstream and harden the arteries. This causes issues related to blood flow and cardiac obstructions. In such cases, there is also an increased risk of a heart attack.

Contact Focus Dental Group to learn more about the relationship between oral health and dental health. Call (801) 255-7101 or visit our dental office located at 6770 S 900 E Suite 301, Midvale, UT 84047 to schedule an appointment.

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