WATCH YOUR mouth!

DENTAL HYGIENE AND ITS IMPACT ON YOUR OVERALL HEALTH

BY DAVID BUICE

Most of us realize the importance of brushing and flossing our teeth daily. However, what you may not appreciate is just how essential dental hygiene is to your overall health. In reality, a synergistic relationship exists between your teeth and gums and the organs throughout your body. What happens in your mouth can adversely affect the proper functioning of other organs beyond your mouth, while at the same time, things occurring in other parts of your body can negatively impact your teeth and gums.

BACTERIA BY THE MILLIONS

Much of the story regarding dental hygiene and your overall health begins with the approximately six million bacteria teeming in your mouth. Most are relatively harmless, but not all are. Without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that lead to tooth decay and gum disease. And numerous studies have suggested the bacteria and inflammation associated with periodontitis (severe gum disease) may play a role in spreading disease via the bloodstream to other parts of your body.

At the same time, diseases such as diabetes and HIV/ AIDS can lower the body’s resistance to infection and make oral health problems more severe.

Finally, further complicating the situation, certain medications such as decongestants, antihistamines, painkillers, diuretics, and antidepressants reduce saliva flow. Saliva plays an essential role in protecting you from microbes that multiply and can lead to disease in your mouth and elsewhere in your body.

CONDITIONS BEYOND THE MOUTH LINKED TO ORAL HEALTH

Poor oral hygiene may contribute to several health issues, including the following.

Endocarditis – This is an infection that typically occurs when bacteria spread into your bloodstream from other parts of your body, including the mouth, and attaches to the endocardium, the smooth membrane that lines in the inside chambers of the heart and forms the surface of the heart valves.
Atherosclerosis – Although the connection is not fully understood, some studies suggest clogged arteries and stroke might be linked to the inflammation andinfections caused by oral bacteria.
Pregnancy and birth conditions – Periodontitis (gum disease) has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
Pneumonia – Certain bacteria in the mouth can be drawn into the lungs, causing pneumonia and other respiratory issues.

BODILY CONDITIONS AFFECTING ORAL HEALTH

These conditions, among others, may negatively affect your oral health.

Diabetes – By reducing the body’s resistance to infection, diabetes puts your gums at risk. And in a vicious cycle, periodontal disease can make your blood sugar difficult to control, making your diabetes worse.
HIV/AIDS – Oral problems, such as mucosal lesions, are common in HIV/AIDS patients.
Osteoporosis – Bones easily can fracture when they become fragile due to osteoporosis, and this condition may be connected to tooth and jawbone loss.

PREVENTIVE CARE

Given the connection between oral health and other systemic health issues, preventive oral health care is essential. You should brush twice and floss once daily,have regular dental checkups and cleanings, and tell your dentist about any changes in your overall health.

Tooth Loss, Cognitive Decline and Dementia, Is There a Link?

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), about five million Americans aged 65 years or older have dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for 60 to 80% of dementia cases. To date, there is no known cure for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, and in looking for a cure for the most common forms of dementia, researchers are interested in identifying any potential risk factors contributing to the onset of these disorders.

One recent study involving slightly over 34,000 participants took place at New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing. It was conducted by researchers wanting to see if there’s a connection between tooth loss, the number of teeth lost, and cognitive decline, and dementia. The researchers found that tooth loss was associated with a 1.48 times greater risk of cognitive decline and 1.28 times greater risk of dementia. And for every tooth lost, a person had a 1.4% greater risk of cognitive decline and a 1.1% greater risk of developing dementia.

The NYU researchers concede that it is unclear exactly what mechanism is behind the seeming connection between tooth loss, cognitive decline, and dementia. More research is needed, but if nothing else, their preliminary findings should provide added impetus for taking good care of your teeth wand gums.