Oral health has always been considered independent of general health, although closely related. The conditions of your mouth will go a long way in telling much about your general health, and poor oral health is bound to send you into the throes of many systemic diseases. Keeping this connection clear will go a long way in maintaining your oral and overall good health.
Conditions Linked to Oral Health
Cardiovascular Disease
Studies indicate a clear connection between gum disease and heart disease. Periodontitis may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke since the blood vessels inner linings swell because of this infection, which has several additional factors.
Diabetes
There is a two-way relationship between diabetes and oral health. Events connected to high blood sugar levels could raise the risk of gum diseases, while severe gum diseases could increase difficulty in blood sugar control. Controlling one aspect positively affects the other.
Pregnancy Complications
Pregnant women who have bad teeth stand at a higher possibility of giving premature birth and low birth weight. There may be infections and inflammation in the mouth, which will cause inflammatory responses in the body, leading to complications.
How Overall Health Affects Oral Health
Nutritional Deficiencies
Your family dentist will advise that a poor diet will thus affect oral health. For example, a diet low in vitamin C will lead to scurvy, which may be responsible for disorders and bleeding in the gums. Both calcium and Vitamin D are exceedingly important for strong teeth and bones.
Medications
Some drugs cause dry mouth and, by so doing, inhibit saliva flow. This places people at increased risk of contracting tooth decay or gum disease. Sadly, all drugs for diseases such as hypertension, depression, and allergies usually have some oral side effects.
Systemic Diseases
The effect of systemic diseases like HIV/AIDS and osteoporosis may show in oral health. A patient who has HIV/AIDs becomes more susceptible to various oral infections and lesions. Tightly connected to this is osteoporosis, which weakens the jawbone or, in other words, can result in tooth loss.
Maintaining Good Oral Health
Healthy Diet
You must have a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Restrict eating sugary snacks and sweetened beverages, generally linked with tooth decay. Rinse yourself well with water by drinking enough water to keep yourself hydrated and help remove foods.
Avoid Tobacco and Limit Alcohol
Tobacco use presents an independent significant risk for periodontal diseases, dental caries, and oral cancers. Control of alcohol consumption maintains not only oral health risks but general health risks as well.
Manage Stress
Stress increases teeth grinding and allows one to forget to do oral hygiene measures. To maintain oral and general health, one should be able to manage stress through exercise, meditation, and good sleep.
It cannot be argued that oral health goes hand-in-hand with overall body health. Keeping good mouth hygiene, you contributes to having a fit body. Developed oral hygiene, regular dental visits, proper and healthy diets, and abstinence from life hazards such as smoking are the most important things to ensure that your oral health keeps up with your general health. Remember that a healthy mouth remains the foundation by which solid bodies are built.