Valparaiso Family Dentistry-What is The Link Between Oral Health and Healthy Body?

Those living in Valparaiso seeking family dentistry advice for enjoying healthy teeth, gums and an overall healthy body, must know the connection between oral health and physical health. 

Your mouth is the gateway to your body. The bacteria that grow inside your mouth cause gums to become inflamed. It also causes the bone structure that holds the teeth in place to become weak. This infection or inflammation gives rises to serious gum disease known as periodontitis. Periodontitis or inflammation of the gums causes many other health problems, such as

Diabetes- People who have diabetes, usually lack an adequate amount of insulin in their body, the hormone that converts sugar into energy. Periodontitis affects the body’s natural ability to control blood sugar, thereby worsening the situation for people who already have diabetes. This is not all. High blood sugar further allows infections to grow which increases oral health risk of diabetic people. 

Heart disease- Studies reveal that there is a connection between heart disease and gum disease. Both the conditions have many common risk factors, such as smoking, excess weight, unhealthy diet. Some dentists and medical health professionals believe that gum disease increases a person’s risk of heart disease. This is due to the fact that inflammation in the mouth results in inflammation of the blood vessels. Inflamed blood vessels do not allow adequate amount of blood to flow through them, and result in increased blood pressure. Further, there is an increased risk that fatty plaque will break the walls of the blood vessels and would travel to the heart, resulting in stroke or heart attack. 

Osteoporosis- Valparaiso Family Dentistry advice for maintaining good oral health and a healthy body; do remember that poor oral health can increase your chances of osteoporosis. Gum disease affects the jaw bone. There is a significant bone loss in the mouth. Inflammation caused by gum disease results in weakening of the bones in other parts of the body. Osteoporosis results due to loss of bone density. Researches reveal that most women who have osteoporosis have gum disease too.

 

Pregnancy- A recent study has discovered that inflammation and infections in the mouth interfere with the normal growth and development of the fetus. Women who suffer from gum disease often give birth to pre-mature babies or under-weight babies. If you are pregnant or you are planning to conceive, you must visit your dentist in Aurora to get a complete oral exam. 

Some other health problems that are linked to poor oral health are obesity, lung infections, pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. 

To reduce your risk of above health problems, take good care of your teeth and gums. Ask your dentist in Aurora about how you can enjoy good oral health so as to improve your overall physical health.