Despite our healthcare system treating dental health as separate from our overall health, the two couldn’t be more intertwined. A healthy, happy smile helps us to make friends, advance our careers, and find life partners, among other things. And beyond the aesthetics, a healthy mouth helps us to eat, communicate, and much more.
Although brushing your teeth isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when setting your New Year’s Resolution to make healthier choices, it plays a bigger role in your overall health than you might think. Here’s how dental health affects your body throughout your life.
Dental Health & Pregnancy
Changes in hormones during pregnancy can irritate the expectant mother’s gums, potentially leading to infection. Infection can be easily passed from mother to unborn child during pregnancy, putting the child at a higher risk of low birth weight or premature birth.
Children & Cavities
By the time they reach about eight years old, most children will have experienced a cavity in their primary (baby) teeth. Some common causes include the transfer of bacteria through shared eating utensils or drinking from the same glass as friends or family members. If left untreated, even in a baby tooth, the cavity-causing bacteria can spread deeper into the tooth, transfer to other teeth, and eventually be passed on to other people. The longer it’s left untreated ,that bacteria can then go on to develop into a more serious threat to the rest of the body.
Common Health Conditions Connected to Adult Oral Health
- Adults who suffer from diabetes have a higher risk of gingivitis and periodontitis.
- Over 90% of people with heart disease also have periodontal disease.
- Smoking significantly increases a person’s risk for developing periodontal disease.
A person’s dental health can be both an indicator and a symptom of other physical, mental, or emotional health issues they experience throughout their lifetime. Whether you haven’t kept up with regular brushing during a depressive episode or a recent periodontal disease diagnosis prompts an appointment with a heart specialist, there’s always an element of oral health, no matter how small, that may factor in to the overall issue.
That’s why it’s so important to take care of your mouth and everything in it. To learn more or book your next dental appointment, contact us today.
