Most of us are aware that proper dental care helps prevent various oral health issues. But why is dental health important to overall health? In this article, we address this question and discuss how preventive dental procedures, such as teeth cleaning, can improve your general health.

Why Is Dental Health Important to Overall Health?

The majority of dental health issues stem from bacterial infections in the mouth. If such issues are not addressed, the bacteria continue to proliferate, leading not only to an exacerbation of the issues but also to general health consequences. Dental health greatly influences your overall health because:

Your mouth is directly connected to the gastrointestinal system.
Infections can enter the bloodstream through the gums.
Ongoing inflammation in any part of the body, including your mouth, puts strain on the immune system.

Let’s examine some general health issues that can result from oral infections.

Gastrointestinal Health

Infections in the mouth disrupt its microbiome, and harmful bacteria can travel down into the digestive tract, which, in turn, leads to an imbalance of the gut microbiome. This can worsen conditions like IBD, irritable bowel syndrome, and GI inflammation. Additionally, missing teeth, gum pain, or dry mouth can affect chewing and saliva flow, which hinders proper digestion and leads to issues such as indigestion and malabsorption.

Skin Health

As mentioned above, oral health can impact our gut health, which, in turn, is closely linked to the appearance of our skin. Thus, oral infections can indirectly lead to excess oil production, acne flare-ups, and dullness of the skin.

Cardiovascular, Joint, and Lung Health

Gum disease—a chronic infection in the gum tissue—is closely associated with cardiovascular, joint, and lung health issues:

Oral infections allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream. These bacteria can stick to fatty deposits in arteries, contributing to atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries).
Chronic gum disease increases systemic inflammation, raising the risk for heart attack, stroke, and hypertension.
Oral bacteria (especially Streptococcus) can infect the inner lining of the heart (endocardium), especially in people with heart valve disease.
Oral bacteria produce enzymes that may trigger autoimmune reactions, worsening joint inflammation.
Gum disease is associated with worse lung function and more frequent flare-ups in Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
Oral bacteria and inflammatory mediators can worsen airway inflammation.

Diabetes

Oral infections and inflammatory conditions, particularly gum disease, can increase insulin resistance, making it more challenging to maintain stable blood glucose levels. In addition, poor gum health is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular problems, kidney disease, and other diabetes-related complications.

Energy Levels and Immunity

Chronic infections in the mouth and other parts of the body take a significant toll on the immune system, making one more susceptible to colds, viral infections, and overall draining energy. On top of that, an unbalanced gut microbiome that stems from oral infections can also contribute to feeling low energy, chronic fatigue, and even depression.

How to General Prevent Health Complications Associated with Poor Oral Health

The recipe for preventing general health complications associated with poor oral health is to:

Maintain excellent oral hygiene on a daily basis by brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing thoroughly every evening.
Visit your dentist twice a year for checkups and professional teeth cleanings to remove all the lingering plaque and tartar (the leading causes of oral infections) from the teeth.
Treat oral health issues in time, before they become serious and burden your general health.
Avoid sugary and acidic foods and beverages to prevent enamel erosion.
Avoid smoking, which weakens gum health.

Get Dental Care at The Smile Artists LA

Take care of your oral health with the help of an experienced dentist at The Smile Artists LA. Do not hesitate to make an appointment today. We are looking forward to your visit.