3 Things To Know About The Correlation Between Your General Health And Oral Health

Going to the dentist to get your teeth cleaned, examined, or repaired is not something that is only important for good oral health, but it is also important for your overall health. Keeping your mouth, gums, and teeth healthy can play a role in the health of your body, and your current health status can also affect your oral health. This correlation is becoming more important to dentists, because they have discovered that there are so many connections between the body and oral health. Here are several things you should know about the correlations that exist between your mouth and your body.

Your Mouth Can Be The First Indication Of A Health Problem

If you have a health problem that you are unaware of, you might be surprised to know that your dentist is the health provider that might first notice this problem. When a dentist examines your mouth during a regular checkup, he or she will look for signs of problems. Any type of open sore, lesion, bone loss, or irregularity with your gums could be a red flag to your dentist.

These types of issues in your mouth can indicate a health problem that has nothing to do with your teeth or mouth; however, there are times when these types of issues can indicate an oral health problem too. Some of the problems these signs can indicate are gum disease, tooth decay, oral infections, HIV, Crohn's disease, and osteoporosis.

When your dentist sees things like this during an examination, he or she will tell you about them. The dentist may refer you to a dental specialist to have them examined further, or he or she might recommend seeing your regular doctor. While you may not be having any symptoms of a health problem, you should follow up with your dentist's recommendation. It will be better to find out sooner rather than later if there is a problem that needs to be addressed.

Oral Health Problems Can Lead To Other Health Problems

Not only can oral problems let dentists know that there are health problems present, but having oral problems can actually lead to other health problems. When your mouth has an infection in it or contains too much bacteria, the infection and bacteria can easily pass to other body parts through your blood stream.

For example, if you are suffering from gum disease, you could be at risk for developing heart problems. The bacteria found in your gums could spread to your heart, which can lead to an infection forming in your heart. If this happens, you could develop heart disease, or you might suffer from a stroke or heart attack.

General Health Problems Can Lead To Oral Problems

Finally, it is important to realize that certain health problems can actually cause oral problems. Diabetes is a good example of this. If you are diabetic, your body's immune system might be weaker than it should be. Because of this, your immune system might not be able to fight off normal bacteria found in your mouth. This could result in developing gum disease. If you have diabetes, going to the dentist regularly is vital.

Another example of this is osteoporosis, which is a condition that causes bones to weaken. If you have this condition, it could cause bone loss of your jaw. A loss of bone in this area could cause you to lose your teeth, or it could also lead to gum disease.

Your oral health and general health are connected, and your dentist might be able to help you understand this more. If you would like to get your teeth examined, contact a dentist or hop over to this website today.

About Me

Helping You Understand Your Mouth

As a young child, I was petrified of the dentist. Dental fears are common, and I found that the more I learned about the teeth and gums, the less afraid I felt making my dental appointments. The teeth and gums are simply a part of your body that need extra special care, and I want you to know there is nothing to be afraid of. I started this blog to inform others about the basic facts about the teeth, so your dentist can be seen as a helpful professional who wants to encourage oral health. After all, we only have one set of adult teeth for our entire lives. Knowledge is power, so read through some of the information so you can make it through your dental appointments as a calm and informed patient.

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