Oral Health and Total Wellness: The Link That Binds Them

Oral Health and Total Wellness: The Link That Binds Them

Oral health impacts the overall wellness of a person. The mouth is the gateway for most of the bacteria that affect our physical health. Poor oral hygiene affects more than just the appearance of your smile; it also affects the other areas of the body. Moreover, it has an impact on the person’s social interaction and self-esteem.

For example, halitosis has deleterious effects such as limitations in communication, social interactions, and intimacy. Bad breath may lead to an awkward encounter and aborted conversation due to odious breath, thus, considered as the first building block of a new relationship.

A person’s mouth serves as a “window” of the body. It reflects the condition of man’s body. A look at the mouth and a test on the saliva can reveal the truths about your body. It shows signs and symptoms of the person’s illnesses, nutritional deficiencies, harmful habits such as smoking and drug abuse.

For instance, mouth lesions can be a sign of HIV infection, bleeding and pale gums indicate a blood disorder. Moreover, the saliva shows the presence of many compounds such as drugs, nicotine, alcohol, etc. in the body.

Bacteria from the mouth can easily get into the other parts of the body and can cause infections. Here are some problems caused by poor oral hygiene:

• Cardiovascular Disease

  – Heart disease has a connection with oral health.  Oral bacteria can cause gum inflammation that can enter the blood vessel, which leads to blood clots and heart attack. 91% of patients with heart disease also have periodontitis or gum disease.

• Diabetes

  – Diabetic persons have difficulty processing sugar due to the absence of a hormone called insulin. Periodontal disease can make it even harder for the insulin in the body to do its job, making diabetes even harder to manage. Persons with diabetes are also more susceptible to periodontal disease.

• Respiratory Problems

  – For individuals with a periodontal disease, bacteria can travel through the bloodstream, then into your lungs where it can have an adverse impact on your respiratory system. It may result in respiratory health problems such as chronic pneumonia or acute bronchitis.

• Premature delivery, Low-Birth-Weight Infants, and Infection in the Newborn Child

  -The bacteria from a mother’s mouth can get into the bloodstream and injure the fetus, potentially leading to premature delivery, low-birth-weight infants, and infection in the newborn child.

• Dementia

  – Improper oral hygiene can adversely affect the person’s brain. Bacteria from gingivitis can spread to the nerve, bloodstream, then to the brain. These bacteria can kill brain cells and lead to memory loss or Dementia.

• • Infertility –

    Poor oral hygiene can cause infertility in women. Gum disease can lead to health issues that can make it hard for women to conceive and attain a healthy pregnancy. It can take longer for women with poor oral health to get pregnant than it would for women who have good dental health.

  • Self-Esteem Problems –

    The psychological impact of possessing bad teeth and bad breath is tremendously significant. For instance, some children would neither smile nor open their mouth to laugh because of their rotting teeth and halitosis. Some kids also stopped playing with other children because they are ashamed of their teeth.

Another dental problem is tooth loss which may cause an unusual speaking manner. Toothless people tend to mispronounce words, which makes it hard for others to comprehend what they are saying. Consequently, individuals who have lost their teeth can only handle jobs that do not require verbal interaction. Moreover, they tend to have a hard time having a social relationship.

• Erectile Dysfunction –

  Poor oral hygiene can cause erectile dysfunction in man. The bacteria found in chronic periodontal disease, which is a gum problem, can get into the bloodstream and cause inflammation in the blood vessels. This inflammation can block the flow of blood to the genitals, making erections difficult or impossible.

• Cancer –

  Poor oral hygiene such as smoking can lead to throat cancer, but other types of cancer resulted from gum disease. Kidney cancer, blood cancers, and pancreatic cancer are much higher for people who have poor oral health.

• Kidney Disease –

  Periodontal disease, a gum disease, can lead to kidney disease. People with gum disease have a weaker immune system and are vulnerable to infections. Many individuals who suffer from poor oral health also suffer from kidney disease.

• Rheumatoid Arthritis –

  People with gingivitis, a gum disease, are more likely to have Rheumatoid Arthritis. The bacteria from gingivitis can increase inflammation throughout the entire body, producing a risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, a painful inflammatory disease.

Takeaway

A lot of recent studies reveal that oral health impacts the overall health and wellness. Researchers are finding more and more links between illnesses of the mouth and total wellness. Diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Kidney disease, Erectile Dysfunction, etc. all have links with Poor Oral Hygiene.

Author Bio:Brittany Miller is a health enthusiast and a blogger. She enjoys sharing her health tips to others.