Surprising connection between your Oral and Physical Health

Your mouth is the gateway to your body

The state of your mouth plays an important role in your overall health. Your mouth can tell you a lot about the health of your body. The mouth acts as a mirror to show signs of disease.
The fuel for the body enters through the mouth. Its primary gateway for most of the infections that affect the health.

Bacteria transfer from mouth into the body

Poor dental care leads to bacteria buildup on teeth this makes gums and teeth prone to infection. The immune system moves in to attack the infection causing the gums to become inflamed. The inflammation continues unless the infection is addressed and the source of the infection gets cared for.

Over time, inflammation and the chemicals releases eat away at the gums and bone structure that hold teeth in place. The result is severe gum disease, known as periodontitis. Inflammation can also cause problems in the rest of the body.

In truth, oral bacteria enter the body in a number of ways. Bad oral bacteria can be swallowed. Because the body has been in cleanse cycle all night and saliva hasn’t been circulating, the highest levels of oral bacteria are ingested when we take our first swig of water in the morning.

Oral and facial pain.

Oral and facial pain are caused by infection of this could be a gum infection or an infection of the teeth. tha. Gingivitis, an early stage of gum disease, and advanced gum disease affect more than 75% of the U.S. population.

Diseases can develop as a result of oral infections

With the constant advancements in science and the new methods of identifying the causes of various diseases, scientists keep discovering more and more links between our oral health and overall health.

Many studies have found bacteria that entered the body through the mouth to be responsible for the following diseases:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream and attack the friendly bacteria in your gut. And that’s when your digestive issues begin to worsen.

Breast cancer
Women may be 11 times more likely to develop breast cancer due to lack of good oral care.

Diabetes
Serious gum disease may have the potential to affect blood glucose control and contribute to the progression of diabetes.

Cardiovascular disease
Stroke, heart attack, infective endocarditis, and thickening of the arteries can occur due to poor oral health.
When bacteria reach the heart, they can attach themselves to any damaged area and cause inflammation.

Bacterial pneumonia
Bacterial infections in the chest are believed to be caused by breathing droplets from the mouth and throat into the lungs can cause bacterial pneumonia.

Rheumatoid arthritis
Some research shows those who had moderate to severe periodontitis had more than twice the risk of RA compared to those with mild or no periodontitis.

Few points to practice good oral hygiene

  • Brush twice a day for at least two minutes, using fluoridated toothpaste.
  • Floss daily to remove plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach.
  • Eat a healthy diet to provide the nutrients necessary (vitamins A and C, in particular) to prevent gum disease.
  • Visit the dentist regularly for cleanings and exams. This is one of the most effective ways to detect the early signs of any dental disease.

Don’t forget to provide your dentist with a complete medical history and inform of any recent health developments, even if they seem unrelated to your oral health.

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