General dentistry is about more than keeping your teeth looking good. Oral health has a strong connection to your overall health, both affecting each other in turn because your mouth connects the outside environment to the inside of your body. As a result, practicing oral hygiene — or failing to do so — is a major factor in your wellbeing.
Your mouth is the entry point to your digestive and respiratory tracts, and from there to the rest of your body. It also naturally hosts a substantial population of bacteria, providing a moist, warm and nutrient-rich environment. Fortunately, these microorganisms are mostly harmless, owing in part to saliva and gingival fluid carrying antimicrobial agents and white blood cells, respectively. Effective dental care combined with these natural defenses keeps your mouth healthy.
Neglecting oral hygiene and general dentistry, however, allows microorganisms to proliferate to an unhealthy level and promotes gum disease and tooth decay. This exposes another entry point to your body: the numerous blood vessels within your teeth and gums. From there, bacteria — both invasive species as well as the normally harmless ones — can enter the bloodstream and circulate through your body. Several disorders arise or are aggravated, by this, including:
Introduced to the bloodstream, oral bacteria can form plaque inside arteries and cause them to harden, a condition called atherosclerosis. This restricts blood flow, induces hypertension, and increases the risks of heart attack, stroke, or aneurysms.
Bacteria that migrate to your heart from other regions of the body can settle within its chambers and valves, infecting the inner lining. This inflames these tissues and creates lesions called vegetations, potentially damaging them and compromising your heart's normal function. Infected tissue can also break free from vegetation and migrate elsewhere, damaging other organs with infection or blood clots.
Any infection that an expectant mother suffers from also puts the baby at risk. Prior to birth, the mother's bloodstream is linked directly to the infant's, and some bloodborne microbes can cross over. Even besides the risk of prenatal infection, ailing health on the mother's part can result in a premature birth and low birth weight, negatively affecting the infant's health.
While poor oral hygiene can cause serious health issues, most dental problems are fairly easy to treat if caught early on, mitigating the risk of contracting any of the aforementioned conditions. Your general dentistry practice is equipped to address excess plaque, gingivitis, and early tooth decay, eliminating harmful microbes and preventing them from entering the bloodstream.
Regularly scheduled cleanings and examinations, at least twice a year, combined with frequent brushing and flossing goes a long way in proactively ensuring oral health. If gum disease does develop, treatment consists of scaling and root planing to remove plaque buildup and bacterial byproducts, giving your gums and teeth the chance to heal. Minor cavities are treated with sealant or fillings to restore tooth integrity and function.
Your dental and gum health has an impact on the rest of your body. While certain diseases can be caused by tooth decay or gingivitis, preventative care keeps your smile beautiful and your heart healthy.
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