Oral Health: The Gateway to Your Overall Health
The mouth is the gateway to the body so it should make sense that problems in the mouth can affect the rest of the body. Protect yourself and your family by better understanding the link between oral health and overall health!
What is the link between oral health and overall health?
The mouth is the entry to both the digestive tract and the respiratory tract. The digestive tract is the long tube of organs from the mouth to the intestines that food travels through while the respiratory tract is composed of the organs that allow for breathing. Like many other areas of the body, the mouth is full of germs which can enter both the digestive tract and the respiratory tract due to their connection.
Good oral care, such as brushing and flossing the teeth, can keep germ levels in the mouth under control. Without good oral hygiene, germ levels can reach levels that lead to oral infections such as tooth decay and gum disease. Studies show that the germs and inflammation associated with tooth decay and gum disease can play a role in general respiratory and digestive diseases.
What conditions can be linked to oral health?
- Pneumonia: Certain germs from the mouth can spread to the lungs which can cause pneumonia and other respiratory infections especially in those with other compromising conditions.
- Oral pain: Oral disease can lead to pain which can be debilitating for those of any age.
- Pregnancy and birth complications: Gum disease, called periodontitis, has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
- Endocarditis: This is an infection of the lining of the heart or heart valves, called the endocardium. It most commonly happens when germs from other parts of the body, such as the mouth, spread through the blood to the heart. Infection of the endocardium is rare but can be fatal.
- Oral health can also exacerbate other conditions such as lupus, arthritis and diabetes.
How can I protect my oral health and my family’s?
- Brush teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time. Use a soft bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste and be sure to brush the tongue too. A message for parents: children 10 and younger benefit from a parent's help with brushing!
- Clean teeth daily with floss or a water flosser.
- Eat a healthy diet and limit sugary food and sugary or acidic drinks.
- See a dentist ideally every 6 months but at least once a year for checkups and cleanings.
- Don’t use tobacco.
At Sirius Orthodontics we treat both children and adults with braces and Invisalign. Having a healthy mouth is a critical part of orthodontic treatment success so it is very important to us! While we don’t offer general dental care such as dental cleanings in our office, we do require that all our patients who start orthodontic treatment are up to date with their routine dental exams. If you are looking for answers about general dental care, we have many trusted dental providers in the area we can direct you to. Healthy smiles mean happy smiles, and we love being part of creating them!