The Connection Between Oral Health and Overall Well-being

As someone who visits the dentist far more often than I would like, I make it my business to find out how I can be as healthy as possible when it comes to looking after my teeth. Going forwards I want to not have the need for things that I have had to experience this year like root canal treatment and so I am constantly striving to ensure I know what’s what!

Lots of things are pretty good common sense when it comes to looking after your mouth, like brushing your teeth twice a day and going for regular check-ups and hygiene appointments – Finding the right dentist is so important, if you live in Peterborough for instance, Google “dentist Peterborough” to find one recommended for you. Talking to a professional is always going to be the best place to start, but also, education yourself is key.

When you look further in depth to oral health, you will discover that if you look after your teeth and gums, you are actually looking after much more than that and giving your general health and wellbeing the attention it deserves as well. Did you know, for example, that there is a link between your oral health, and that of your heart health too?!

We all do have healthy bacteria inside our mouths; this serves a very necessary purpose, because the good bacteria, just like probiotics inside our guts, serve an important role in keeping our mouths fresh. The good bacteria will break down food and preventing the bad bacteria from growing, so we need them but, bad bacteria can pose a far more sinister presence. When the bacteria turns bad it can cause inflammation of the gums which can cause bleeding and even affect the bone. While it may seem obvious then, that if this occurs, tooth loss may be inevitable, the less obvious problem to gum disease has been identified as being linked to blood vessel and heart problems potentially causing heart disease when bacteria from the mouth enter the bloodstream.

And like a domino effect, one thing can cause another. For example, people with Diabetes are far more likely to suffer with Periodontal (heart) disease, which then, as explained, can lead to heart problems. Diabetes can prevent gum disease by maintaining good oral hygiene levels, alongside managing their blood sugar levels which is tricky for a diabetic who will need constant monitoring and a good knowledge of how to measure their levels and keep it under control with diet. Once this is managed effectively, it will greatly help keep a distance in the relationships between the three conditions.

There are lots of reasons to keep your oral health in check but at certain times in life it is more pertinent than ever. We know that people with diabetes are at risk of Periodontal disease which can lead to heart problems, as discussed but others at risk of poor oral health are those who are pregnant.

Pregnancy is precarious for health in lots of ways which are again pretty obvious, we have been taught and have passed down information which is so regularly talked about it has become second nature, but rarely is it mentioned that pregnancy can affect oral health. Bleeding gums are caused by a build-up of plaque and hormonal changes in pregnancy can make us more vulnerable to this.

The repercussions of gum disease in pregnancy can lead to premature birth and low birth weight so when pregnant we need to remember the importance of keeping a good oral health, not just for ourselves, but for our babies too.

Conclusion

Being aware of all the points raised, from the relationship between the diseases and potential causes of further complications, to the fact that during pregnancy we are simply more vulnerable than we may have been prior, we need to think about our oral health and do everything we can to keep ourselves well. Regular brushing with a dentist approved toothpaste, oral hygiene check-ups and using mouthwash to keep the bad bacteria at bay is always advised.

Collaboration.