What is the Link between your Oral and General Health?
The mouth is the window to the wellbeing of your body. Early signs and symptoms of many unwanted systemic conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, tend to manifest on dental and periodontal surfaces.
Oral Health And Diabetes
Possibly the strongest connection between oral and general health exists between chronic gum disease and diabetes. Dental and medical experts report that gum inflammation actually starts the compromise of the body to control and regulate blood sugar levels.
People with diabetes are also far more likely to suffer from tooth loss compared to non-diabetics. This is because diabetes decreases the efficiency at which the body heals itself. It also compromises the otherwise optimal ability of the immune system to protect the body against bacterial infection. Both gum disease and tooth decay are caused by bacteria.
Oral Health And Cardiovascular Disease
Prominent bodies of study point out that people who have gum disease are far more likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases. And this seems to be a two-way relationship. According to the numbers collected by the American Dental Association, up to 91% of the people with cardiovascular disease also suffer from gum disease.
While the connection between heart and gum disease is as tangible as it gets, conclusive studies on whether or not either condition actively results in the development of the other is yet to be conducted. However, both heart and gum disease share common risk factors, which include smoking, sedentary lifestyle and obesity among others.
Good dental upkeep does so much more than ensure a picture-perfect smile. It might as well be your first step to improving your general wellbeing. At the very heart of proper oral healthcare is the regular practice of good dental habits. These include brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing nightly and visiting your dentist regularly for professional cleans.
Our dental clinics at Park Road, Milton and Buranda Village, Woolloongabba are open and ready to accept patients from Brisbane, Milton and all other surrounding areas like Bardon Indooropilly, Kenmore, Auchenflower Toowong, St. Lucia, Southbank, West End, Dutton Park, Coorparoo, Fairfield, Greenslopes, Annerley, South Brisbane, Stones Corner, Mount Gravatt East, Holland Park, Highgate Hill and Brisbane CBD.