You know that taking care of your teeth is important. Did you know that your dental health can also impact the health of your heart, your mental and social wellbeing, and possibly even affect your risk of type II diabetes? Medical research is beginning to draw the links between health in the mouth, the gateway to the body, and the body overall. Here are a few of the best-established links.
Untreated Gum Disease May Raise the Risk of Heart Disease
and Stroke
Many people experience gingivitis, a
swelling of the gums that makes them prone to bleeding when brushing teeth.
Gingivitis, which is caused by bacteria, can turn into a more serious chronic
condition known as periodontitis, in which gum tissue recedes from the teeth,
bone in the jaw is damaged, and teeth become loose or fall out.[i]
According to the British National Health
Service (NHS), the chronic inflammation and bacterial infection present in periodontal
disease can spread into the entire body, causing damage to the blood vessels
leading to the brain and heart over a long period of time. This damage raises
the risks of heart disease and stroke.[ii]
Diabetes and Oral Diseases Go Hand-in-Hand
According to the Cleveland Clinic, people
with diabetes are more likely to develop gum disease. This is in part because
uncontrolled diabetes weakens white blood cells, which makes the body less able
to fight off the bacteria present in gum disease. In addition, diabetes can
cause dry mouth, which raises the risk of tooth decay.[iii]
Researchers are also uncovering more and
more evidence that gum disease can play a role in causing or worsening diabetes.
Inflammation caused by periodontitis has been shown to negatively affect the
body’s ability to regulate blood sugar.[iv] “Fortunately,” says a WebMD article on the topic, “you can use the gum
disease-diabetes relationship to your favor: managing one can help bring the
other under control.”[v]
Gum Disease is Linked to Premature Birth
Multiple studies have shown that
periodontal disease is linked to premature birth in expectant mothers.[vi] Although the exact way in which gum disease may contribute to early birth isn’t
fully understood yet, a study published in 2019 found that women who went into
labor early had gum health that was four times worse than women who did not.
The women whose babies were born early also had eight times more oral plaque
than the other women.[vii]
Hormonal changes in the body make women
more susceptible to gingivitis and periodontitis during pregnancy.[viii] While studies linking poor oral health and premature birth have generated some
contradictory evidence, it’s clear that it’s important to take oral health
seriously when expecting a baby.
Oral Health and Overall Wellbeing
Finally, gum disease, tooth decay and other
oral problems can impact how people “look, speak, chew, taste food and
socialize”.[ix] If you’ve ever had a toothache, you know how that pain can impact your entire
day. It can also be embarrassing to speak or smile with missing or decayed
teeth. According to a 2012 study, people with poor oral health feel less confident
speaking in public, are less likely to smile, and in extreme cases may even
avoid leaving the house.[x]
How You Can Help
You can protect yourself from many of the
negative impacts of poor oral health by brushing twice a day with fluoride
toothpaste and flossing daily. If you’re interested in helping others improve
their dental health and overall wellbeing, you can also pursue a career as a
dental assistant. These professionals play an important role in assisting with
dental treatments, educating patients about dental health, and making patients
feel welcome at their dental practice.
At Altierus Career College, we offer a hands-on
dental assistant training program you can complete in as few as nine months of
study. Scrubs, an iPad, and test fees for any certification exams you may need
to take to practice in your state are all included in the cost of the program. Learn more
today!
[i] https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/conditions/periodontal-disease.html
[ii] https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/health-risks-of-gum-disease/
[iii] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11263-oral-health-problems-and-diabetes
[iv] https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/oral-health-the-mouth-body-connection
[v] https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/oral-health-the-mouth-body-connection, p.1
[vi] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5303728/
[vii] https://www.dentalhealth.org/news/study-highlights-link-between-gum-disease-and-premature-labour
[viii] https://americanpregnancy.org/is-it-safe/swollen-gums-during-pregnancy/
[ix] https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/83/9/editorial30905html/en/
[x] https://www.fhdc.co.uk/bad-teeth-can-affect-your-mental-health/
