Many are choosing to maintain their oral health routines not only for the sake of a picture perfect smile, but also because the mouth exhibits warning signs for more serious health issues. Good oral health is beneficial to the whole body, not just the mouth.
Poor oral health may lead to a variety of ailments that affect the mouth, including gum disease and tooth decay. If left untreated, the bacterium that causes plaque and tooth decay builds up in the mouth and is swallowed and absorbed into the bloodstream where it can clog arteries and damage the heart, according to Medical News Today.
Those with diabetes are advised to take extra care of their mouth and teeth. Diabetes inhibits the body from making insulin, which turns sugar into energy. The inability to control sugar levels in the saliva exposes those with diabetes to more frequent and severe gum and bone infections, say health experts at the Mayo Clinic. This could potentially cause those with diabetes to lose more teeth than someone without diabetes. According to the American Dental Association, diabetes also causes a weaker immune system, which can lengthen healing time after any major dental procedure.
Maintaining oral health is especially important in children. The World Health Organization warns that poor oral health in children can cause chronic infections and poor nutrition due to the inability to eat without pain or discomfort. Pain from infections can lead to sleeplessness and affect growth and weight gain, as can poor nutrition. A healthy diet is important for providing children with the proper vitamins and nutrients that are needed for proper growth of teeth, gums and a strong immune system, says the ADA.
The mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body and can exhibit warning symptoms that something bigger might be wrong. Dry mouth can be common when you are thirsty or on certain medications, but can also be a sign of Parkinson's disease, anxiety disorders, depression and diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic. It is important that you get your mouth checked regularly for any symptoms that might be a sign of something bigger, especially for patients with braces.
You should be able to differentiate symptoms that appear in the mouth regularly and when to be alarmed. It is common for women to have swollen gums and cold sores before their expected time of menstruation, but those normally go away once menstruation begins. Swollen and inflamed gums are also a side effect of some oral contraceptives. Gingivitis is also common during pregnancy and expecting mothers should be sure to stick to their dental hygiene routine to ward off any extra plaque that may build up.
It is important for people with crooked teeth to seek help from an orthodontist. Crooked teeth can add to the severity of oral diseases and potentially affect the way a person eats, breathes and talks. When left untreated, these issues can lead to more serious issues like bite problems, sleep apnea and speech impediments, just to name a few. New braces can irritate the mouth, but it is important to be able to differentiate bigger warning symptoms from normal braces irritation.
Keeping up with oral health not only benefits your smile, but your entire body. It is especially important for teeth to be clean if a patient has braces, even if the braces- invisible braces such as Invisalign- are removable. Good oral health reduces the risk of tooth decay, which may slow down treatment time for orthodontics patients.
Maintaining good oral health is as simple as flossing and brushing teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
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