When it comes to maintaining top-notch oral health, many people presume that all that is needed is brushing twice a day, flossing, and avoiding sugar.
Of course, these can be helpful for preventing issues with your oral health. However, if you are somebody who doesn’t actively take care of your teeth and gums, you may be setting yourself up for more serious health implications besides bad breath. Research has found that individuals who take better care of their teeth have a lowered risk of an array of long-term and serious health ailments and on the other side, those who have poor oral health are heightening their chances of developing serious disease.
So, this article will walk you through how poor oral health can impact on your general health and will help you to devise strategies on how to improve and issues you may be having. Of course, as always, be sure to see your dentist or hygienist as often as you can and ask their advice on which courses of action are best for you. Enjoy!
Tooth Decay and Cavities
Starting with the most obvious, if you fail to regularly brush your teeth, floss, and rinse with mouthwash, you are putting yourself at a higher risk of developing tooth decay and cavities.
This is simply caused by food debris being stuck on the teeth and developing into plaque, which usually occurs in 24 to 48 hours if the food debris has not been removed with a brush. The bacteria that live in the plaque feed on the sugars in the food debris and excrete acid onto the tooth, which causes a breakdown of enamel. The result is tooth decay and cavities.
Tooth decay and cavities are painful and can lead to more serious issues such as infection and, in severe cases, dental extraction.
One way you can prevent tooth decay, and cavities is to ensure that you brush your teeth twice a day with a high fluoride toothpaste, rinse your mouth out with water after you consume sugary foods or beverages, floss, and visit a dentist, such as Direct Dental in Balham twice a year. That way, any signs of cavities can be caught early and treated, usually with a fluoride varnish.
Gum Disease (Gingivitis and Periodontitis)
Next on the list is gum disease, which is unfortunately linked closely to dental decay. This is because both are caused by the same issue, which is plaque.
Gum tissue is incredibly sensitive, and, when plaque is pressed next to the tissue for extended periods of time, the body responds by inflaming the gums. This leads to bleeding when brushing your teeth, soreness, and red, swollen gums.
However, this can become more serious. Untreated gum disease can lead to teeth falling out of your mouth as the gum tissue pulls back from the tooth. There is nothing to hold the tooth in place, so it simply starts to wobble, becomes loose, and falls out of the mouth. If you get to your dentist in time, they can prevent this by treating the gum disease and placing a dental splint in your mouth, which attaches the loose tooth to the nearest stable one, holding it in place.
If you suspect you have gum disease, you need to visit your dental team who we usually refer you to a hygienist for scale and polish. This will remove plaque from under the gum line, which even the highest-tech toothbrushes can’t reach. Your dental team may prescribe you an antibacterial mouthwash and advise you to clean your teeth with a water flosser, as this will help to keep plaque out of those sensitive areas in the mouth. If you have lost teeth due to gum disease, you will need to talk to your dental team about having a bridge fitted or even oral implants. Gum disease can also cause damage to bones, so you may need X-rays to check that your jaw is strong enough to manage oral implants.
Heart Disease
Research into oral health has found a strong link between dental issues and heart disease, in particular gum disease. This is because as the gums become inflamed, they become spongier and allow bacteria to pass through them. This means bacteria enter the bloodstream and build up in the arteries around your heart, which means you are at an increased risk of heart disease as well as strokes.
As before, if you suspect you have gum disease, you need to talk to your dentist or hygienist as soon as possible, and, if they suspect that there are issues due to this illness impacting your heart, you need to meet with your family medicine doctor for a referral.
Diabetes
Many people are aware that if you have a diet that is extremely high in sugar and carbohydrates, you are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Interestingly, if you have gum disease, it can make it harder for your body to control blood sugar levels, which can increase the chance of you developing type 2 diabetes. This can lead to complications such as kidney disease, nerve damage, and even cardiovascular issues.
If you already have diabetes, poorly maintained oral health can exacerbate it. Higher levels of sugar and carbohydrates can enter your bloodstream via the spongy gum tissue caused by gum disease, pushing your blood sugar up. If you have concerns that you have diabetes and your oral health is not great, you need to visit your dental team. They will be able to treat any gingivitis or periodontal disease, which may heighten the chance of you developing diabetes. If you have diabetes and you have concerns that it is not being managed, you need to talk to your dentist and your general practitioner to potentially alter the medications you are taking until your oral health recovers.
Remember, diabetes can also heighten the chance of you developing gum disease, due to a slowed level of healing, so this is a balancing act that you need to stay on top of to ensure that your health is maintained.