Almost half of the entire world population (3.5 billion) suffer from oral diseases like dental caries and tooth decay. Other dental diseases like oral dental trauma, oral cancers, oral decay, cleft lip and palate, and oral manifestations of HIV affect adults and children. Although these are serious issues, they are mostly preventable.
Dental caries affects almost 2.3 billion people and adults with permanent teeth and nearly 530 million children with primary teeth.
You are highly mistaken if you think that oral health is only about teeth, gums, and mouth. Please note that the mouth is the gateway into the body; your entire body can have serious health problems if oral health is not prioritized. Smelly breath, bleeding gums, and tooth sensitivity or indicators and symptoms of poor oral health. Did you know the same bacteria that causes dental infections and inflammation lead to life-threatening diseases?
Oral diseases should be the least of your concerns; there are bigger problems, severe.
As per the national rheumatoid arthritis society, people suffering from oral infections and diseases, and lack of oral care are four times more likely to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. Both diseases have one major issue in common, which is inflammation. Gingivitis can spike inflammation throughout the body. This leads to many painful, debilitating inflammatory diseases and rheumatoid arthritis.
Cardiovascular disease
Poor oral care, health, and hygiene put you at risk for cardiovascular disease. A build-up of plaque in your arteries is possible if the bacteria that cause periodontal disease enter your bloodstream. The plaque gets problematic with time; this process leads to a life-threatening condition known as atherosclerosis. This disease causes a lot of blood flow problems and blockages in the heart. Consequently, it increases the risk of having or attacks. The disease’s impact is so severe if it reaches your blood vessels as it would lead to stroke and high blood pressure.
Pregnancy complications
Good oral hygiene should be practiced more by mothers-to-be. It is a fragile phase for the human body as it goes through many hormonal changes, and therefore you are prone to oral infections and inflammation in the body. There are chances of complications in pregnancy due to bad oral health. Dental diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis cause low birth weight in infants and even premature birth. Periodontal diseases lead to negative consequences to the mother and baby’s health. There is a low risk of a baby born with acute illness as well. Expectant mothers must prioritize oral health.
Diabetes
It’s a known fact that young adults and children who have diabetes are susceptible to oral diseases and infections leading to periodontal diseases, but, on the flipside, periodontal disease makes diabetes unmanageable and worse. Due to the gum disease, there is an increase in sugar levels, which worsens the condition.
Oral health should be a priority if you have diabetes. Periodontal disease should not be taken lightly with symptomatic diabetes, As it would lead to elevated blood sugar levels. The risk of diabetes spikes up with poor oral health.
Dementia
This may surprise you, but poor health does have an adverse impact on your brain. Infected gums caused by bacteria and the substance released from these gums can kill brain cells, which would lead to memory loss. If the infection-causing bacteria reaches and spreads into your nerve channels and bloodstream, it may lead to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Erectile dysfunction
It is tough to maintain erection during intercourse due to poor oral health. Infected gum disease, like periodontitis, pulls the gum from the teeth. This leaves space between the teeth and gums, leading to bacteria. These bacteria can spread in the bloodstream and due to which there is inflammation in the blood vessels. Inflamed blood vessels lead to blood flow obstruction to the genitals; this makes erections difficult or sometimes impossible.
Given the fact that oral health is so significant, you must not skip your dental appointments. Make it a habit to consult a dentist regularly. People with sensitive teeth should prioritize their dental follow-ups as they are prone to dental diseases and infections. Experts at adentalcare believe that the key to overall good health starts with excellent oral health.
