The Connection of Oral Health with your Overall Health

If we think about the whole body as one circulating machine, the energy to power the machine has to start from somewhere. Our mouth is responsible for holding and breaking down the foods that enter our system, but if we don’t look after it, our bodies start to show signs of breaking down. Over time, more research comes out with links that our heart, lungs, and mental health is connected to our overall well-being – this is no different with our oral health. In today’s blog, we’ll be discussing the common health risks that manifest and go hand-in-hand with our oral health and give you tips and recommendations to help keep your overall health – healthy!

Diabetes and Smoking

As dental professionals, one of our main concerns is not only the health of your teeth but also your gums. Gum disease, otherwise known as periodontitis, is a common chronic disease that leads to the destruction of supporting structures of your teeth – your gums and bones. According to the National Institute of Health, periodontitis and diabetes is a two-way relationship. The risk and severity of a person’s gum disease is often higher for individuals with uncontrolled or poorly controlled diabetes. Gum disease can also occur for healthy individuals that have a family history of such, individuals with poorer oral health maintenance, and particularly for people who smoke.

Heart Disease

Over time, more and more research has been released linking the occurrence of poor oral health, such as gum disease or tooth loss, with heart disease, strokes or attacks than with those with good oral health. While the main cause is still being speculated upon, main theories point towards the bacteria in our mouths that cause gum disease travelling to other parts of our bodies and blood vessels, causing inflammation and damage such as miniscule blood clots that lead to heart attacks and strokes. Other factors may also include smoking, poor lifestyle habits and diets.

Looking after your Lungs

Having a nice smile isn’t the only benefit of keeping your teeth shiny and healthy! Similar to how bacteria in your mouth can travel through your blood vessels, poor oral hygiene can lead to harmful bacteria building up and potentially being inhaled into your lungs. This can result in lung infections, such as pneumonia, and can worsen existing conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary heart disease (COPD).

For individuals who use inhalers for their lung conditions, they may experience side effects such as a dry mouth and an increased risk of dental decay. Saliva is vital in reducing the risk of dental decay due to its remineralising nature, ability to neutralize acids, and antimicrobial properties. To reduce your risks of decay we recommend staying hydrated throughout the day, using a spacer with your inhalers, and rinsing your mouth with water after use. Mouth breathing additionally leads to feelings of a dry mouth, if you or a younger child has habits of mouth breathing, please consult with your GP or dental professional.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

According to a large recent study conducted by the National Institute of Aging in 2020, they found that older adults with signs of periodontitis and other mouth infections were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s. People suffering from dementia and reduced cognitive function are also more likely to endure poor oral health, leading to higher risks for dental decay, gum disease and other related health problems. Dentures, when not cleaned properly, are also at risk of causing infections inside the mouth. To clean dentures effectively, we first recommend leaving your dentures out when not in use, and to not wear them at night. Additionally, soaking them in a solution of equal parts warm water and white vinegar once a week for 30 minutes, and having it left to dry when not in use. Please bring your dentures when visiting the dentist too, so we can check that it still fits perfectly!

For aged adults, we strongly recommend a soft toothbrush with larger handles, some of them come dual ended to help clean dentures, or an electric toothbrush.

So, what can you do to stay healthy?

~ Smoking

Firstly, quitting any habits of smoking or vaping. Decades of research have come to show us the risks and consequences of long-term smoking being linked with lung cancer, heart disease and respiratory issues. We understand habits are hard to break, so please consult with a health professional for any support or resources that you might need.

~ Annual health Check ups

Next, it’s important to know how healthy your body is overall. We would encourage you to visit your GP at least once a year to regularly watch and check for any concerns, and to follow the health advice of your doctor. For individuals with diabetes, whether it be taking medications or changing your lifestyle, trying to control the sugar in your blood and regularly monitoring the BGL count would be beneficial in keeping your body healthy! Additionally, letting your dentist or oral health therapist know that you or your family have a history of diabetes, heart disease, or any other conditions so we can closely monitor the health of your gums and teeth at every appointment.

~ Looking after your teeth

Just like getting your over health checked on, we would love for you to visit the dentist every 6 months for your checkups and cleans. That way, if we have any concerns about certain teeth or areas in your brushing that need improvement, we can catch it early and treat it while it’s small and able to be saved. When maintaining your oral hygiene, we generally recommend that everyone brush their teeth twice every day, and floss every night before brushing. When brushing, either a soft manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush is fine, with normal fluoridated toothpaste. No need for mouthwash, unless prescribed by your dentist, and after brushing – spit, don’t rinse! It might feel a little strange to begin with but that extra fluoride in your teeth will help reduce the chances of decay from occurring in your teeth.

Contacting us 😊

At True Smiles Dental in Marrickville, we try our best to support and maintain your dental well-being. We are continuously committed to providing you with the necessary tools and support for maintaining a healthy smile. If you’re concerned about the impact of smoking, the status of your gums, or how your oral health is connected with your overall health, please schedule an appointment with us today by calling (02) 7728 7282, email us at [email protected] or book online at https://truesmilesdental.com.au/appointment/.

Thank you for checking out our blog today! We hope you enjoyed the read, if you would like to know more about your teeth, have a browse over our other blogs where we discuss topics like the importance of teeth grinding in kids, breathing through your nose, why we need to take regular x-rays, and many more.

Together, we can work towards ensuring your smile remains bright and healthy for years to come.