How Your Oral Health is Linked To Your Overall Health

Poor dental health will increase the risk of developing gum disease, periodontal disease and erosion of the tooth. Your dentist can frequently do check ups to prevent these conditions and keep your oral health in check. Research has however shown that there is a link between your overall health and dental health. Your mouth’s health will mirror your body’s well being. If your mouth is clean, so is your overall wellness.

How is overall health linked with oral health?

Up to 6 million bacteria are flooded in the mouth, most of them harmless. Over time, the bacteria will continue to develop if a person neglects to brush their teeth and floss, leading to diseases such as gum disease and decay. Natural defenses of the body will typically keep these bacteria under control if a person maintains good oral health, but without proper hygiene, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause the infection to spread to other parts of the body.

A big majority of systemic or organ-involving diseases have oral manifestations that lead to the disease.  However, certain conditions may also be linked to poor oral hygiene. Some conditions associated with poor oral health include:

1. Diabetes – As a chronic condition with multiple causes, a person with diabetes will eventually produce gum disease due to lower infection resistance.
2. HIV / AIDS – Those with HIV / AIDS may experience oral complications, such as mouth lacerations.
3. Osteoporosis – As bones are brittle, they can be broken, and may be associated with tooth loss and bone loss in the jaw.
4. Cancer – Oral cancer, leukemia, and other types of cancer that result from improper oral hygiene, should be treated promptly when present, as this is a life threatening condition.
5. Heart disease – Unhealthy oral practices and cardiovascular disease have been shown to correlate, as gum inflammation can lead to diseases such as endocarditis, blocked arteries and the risk of strokes.

Visiting your dentist will help keep your mouth clean and safe and allow your dentist to monitor your oral health over time. Dental exams will address issues with improper diet, hygiene, and health, and presenting a full medical history to your dentist can help address the fundamental ties that you might have to your health. Other habits to include in this list are:

1. Use fluoridated toothpaste twice a day.
2. Daily Floss to erase plaque.
3. Eat a balanced diet for nutritional benefit.
4. Stop tobacco and cigarettes.

If you’re in Nashua NH, you don’t have to worry about finding the best dentist near you who will readily address these problems for you comprehensively. It’s advisable that you visit such a dentist near you at least twice a year for periodic dental and oral check up. Get the best dentist in Nashua NH near you for your check up. Click here for more details.