When we talk about oral health, we´re also referring to a critical element for your quality of life, well-being, and overall health.
Having a healthy mouth, teeth, and gums allows you to socialise more confidently. Good oral health lets you speak, smile, and express yourself without discomfort or pain.
But did you also know that your oral health isn´t just about protecting your teeth? Keeping your mouth in good condition helps you prevent (or help treat) other health issues.
This time, we have compiled a brief list of mouth problems that might be associated with other body health problems (and vice versa). Let´s begin!
5 Mouth-Related Body Health Issues
Diabetes and gum disease
Just as diabetes can diminish your body´s ability to resist infection, high blood sugar levels will also increase the risk of suffering gum disease.
Moreso, developing gum disease can make it hard to keep your blood sugar in check. Prevent this with a daily (and thorough) oral hygiene routine.
Proper oral hygiene means brushing your teeth after each meal. While also flossing and rinsing with antiseptic mouthwash at least once a day.
Dry mouth/tongue and tooth decay
Saliva is one of your teeth and gums´ principal protections against decay/gingivitis-causing bacteria. Thus, having a dry mouth leaves you vulnerable to cavities and gum disease.
Regarding this subject, diseases like Sjögren´s syndrome could be another cause of these oral health issues.
Sjögren´s syndrome is an immune system condition that affects saliva glands and tear ducts and produces xerostomia, which, simply put, makes the patient suffer from chronically dry eyes and mouth.
Teeth grinding and other stress-associated issues.
Around 50% of patients suffering from stress, anxiety, or depression, stop taking proper care of their mouth/teeth. And this makes them prone to developing oral health issues.
Cortisol is prejudicial to your gum tissue and overall health. When you´re under stress, your cortisol levels tend to rise, which can be a problem.
Other unhealthy habits associated with stress include involuntary teeth grinding (bruxism). Bruxism can cause temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Also, stress-induced alcohol drinking and smoking will heavily deteriorate your oral health.
Anemia and pale gums
Anemia is a disease that affects your body´s ability to produce blood cells (and hemoglobin). As a consequence, your body will not get enough oxygen.
A sore mouth, swollen tongue, and pale gum tissue might be clear signs of anemia. If you´re presenting with these symptoms, immediately consult your doctor.
Tooth Loss and osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease that makes your bones more prone to breaking. It might affect even your jawbone, thus producing tooth loss.
In case you suffer from brittle bones. Remember that bisphosphonates (a type of osteoporosis medication) are often associated with causing osteonecrosis. Which also affects the jawbone.
Likewise, bacteria produced by severe gum disease (or periodontitis) might also damage your jawbone. Although these are rare conditions, always tell your dentist about any concerns you might have.
These are but a small fraction of what your mouth can reveal about your health. However, periodically visiting your dentist´s office helps you identify these issues before they become problematic.
Keep in mind that every time you go for a general dental checkup, you could be preventing multiple mouth-originated future health issues.
Call us/contact us online, schedule an appointment, and our team will give you expert insight into preventing issues directly related to your oral health.