Having flawless white teeth has more implications to your health than just granting a bright smile. Excellent oral hygiene ensures that you can get enough nutrients for the proper functioning of your body. You can chew the food properly, which makes the digestion process more efficient and get the most nutrients out of the food. There are innate connections between oral health and the overall health of your body. Oral health is a window that reveals details about your health, such as nutritional deficiencies or infections. The first symptoms of several diseases become apparent in the area around the mouth initially before any other part of the body, such as AIDS, diabetes, and many more. Besides preventing tooth decay, bad breath, and gum disease, healthy oral health can aid in keeping your teeth when you grow old. Without further ado, let us take a look at how good dental health can help in improving your overall health.

How Dental Health Can Improve Your Overall Health

1. Lowering Your Risk Of Heart Disease

The inflammation of gums due to periodontal disease has an interconnection with cardiovascular issues such as heart disease, strokes, and blockage of blood vessels. According to an NIH funded study on periodontal bacteria in the mouth, there are independent links between heart disease and gum disease. The infectious bacteria which can fester in an unhygienic mouth can penetrate your blood vessels and finally cause blockages in the arteries. There are also findings of the presence of periodontal bacteria in the blood vessels of patients suffering from atherosclerosis.

2. Preserving Your Memory

Oral health has links with your memory retention skills and you can enjoy good memories in old age by maintaining your oral health. A publication in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery; Psychiatry states that healthy adults have a better memory and cognitive skill than those suffering from Gingivitis. People who have gingivitis also perform miserably in other skills useful in daily life such as subtraction and deferred verbal recall. You can cut down the bacteria that causes Gingivitis in your mouth by regularly using toothpaste or antimicrobial mouthwash. You can effectively treat gingivitis by consulting with your dentist. If you have anxiety regarding procuring dental treatment, you can discuss with your dentist for using dental sedation to help you relax for the procedure.

3. Reducing And Preventing Diabetes

Oral diseases such as periodontal disease have a connection with type II diabetes and diabetics have an additional risk of acquiring gum disease. Research by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health proves that people suffering from periodontal disease have two times the chance for contracting type II diabetes. The need for additional research exists for establishing the reason for the correlation between the two diseases. The cause for the connection can arise from the fact that inflammations occur all over the body whenever oral infections progress, resulting in the disruption of the sugar processing ability of your body.

Diabetes also inhibits the ability of the body to fight against infections which also includes gum infection which can ultimately progress into severe periodontal disease. Decreasing the risk of gingivitis by safeguarding your oral health can aid in keeping your blood sugar level under control.

4. Decreasing The Danger Of Inflammation And Infection In Your Body

Subnormal oral health has a direct link with the advancement of infections in another area of the body. According to research, there is a strong association between the inflammation of the joint due to autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and gum disease. There are also resemblances between the loss of connective tissue that is identical in both cases of rheumatoid arthritis as well as gum disease. You can prevent the risk of gum disease and tooth decay by maintaining excellent oral hygiene, visiting your dentist routinely, and consuming a proportional diet.

5. Preventing Pancreatic Cancers

A study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reveals that 76 out of the 216 participants who go on to develop pancreatic cancer have pre-existing periodontal disease. The study concludes that the link between periodontal disease and pancreatic cancer is due to the higher concentration of carcinogenic compounds in the mouth due to inflammation.

6. Avoiding Pregnancy Complications And Osteoporosis

Research indicates the association between gum disease and the birth of lower weight and preterm infants. Pregnant women may also experience gingivitis or gum infections which can arise due to fluctuating hormones due to pregnancy. The bacteria which cause gingivitis and periodontal disease can incite growth and developmental issues to the growing fetus.

The bacteria present in the oral cavity releases toxins that can travel through the bloodstream of the mother and reach the developing child via the placenta. Osteoporosis is a bone-weakening disease that has connections with periodontal teeth and bone loss. Certain medications useful for treating osteoporosis also cause loss of bones in the jaw.

Conclusion

Having a healthy mouth also improves your self-confidence and your ability to effectively participate in social interactions. You can maintain good oral health by maintaining a healthy oral hygiene routine which reduces your risk of contracting serious diseases and maintain good overall health. A host of disparate bacteria inhabit the mouth of a human being and they can cause several diseases such as tooth decay, periodontal disease and much more. Excellent oral health can even aid in preventing memory loss for people in their elderly years. According to research, the advanced form of Periodontal disease or Periodontitis has links with cardiovascular health and heart attack. Pregnant women who are having periodontal disease also pose the risk of delivering before the completion of pregnancy term or give birth to infants under the nominal weight. Cultivating healthy oral hygiene habits such as brushing twice in a day, flossing and rinsing the mouth with an antiseptic liquid at an early age can prevent oral diseases in the long term.