Yet many studies have demonstrated the links between oral hygiene practices and our physical health: the prevention of heart disease, diabetes, preparing for pregnancy and so forth.
Encouraging your students to keep in mind the relationship between some of these medical conditions and their oral health is also important, so they could pay more attention on oral hygiene, learn about some common dental diseases and have the corresponding preventive strategy, all of which contribute towards a healthier lifestyle.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is a common dental problem arising from bacteria in dental plaque consuming the hard minerals of the outermost layer of the tooth (known as enamel) to gradually erode away to dentin underneath which is less resilient and thus prone to experiencing pain when it becomes exposed (when the decay reaches the nerve of the tooth, or pulp). The pain often accompanies infection of the tooth. Because they are more grooved, pitted and crannied, with puzzlingly tiny space for cleaning themselves than their smoother, rounded front partners, you would have correctly inferred that back teeth are the most vulnerable to decay. The bacteria in plaque love to munch on sweets and starches just as you do – and the foods that stick around long after we’ve swallowed, like milk, ice cream, sugary or acid candies and drinks, dry fruit cookies, mints and hard candy are the back-teeth destroyers. Ignoring your oral hygiene might put you at risk of everything from heart disease to diabetes, because oral microbes have been found to gain access to your bloodstream, spreading to the heart, other body sites or internal organs – undermining the integrity of your health.
Gum Disease
Periodontitis, aka gum disease, is an irreversible oral condition which if left unmanaged can lead to loss of teeth. There is ample evidence linking periodontitis to diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory infections and poor pregnancy outcomes. Eat a healthy diet, make sure your blood sugars are well-managed if you have diabetes and don’t smoke to decrease your risk of gum disease. Regular visits to your dentist and dental hygienist every six to 12 months are important as well. ‘The mouth,’ he writes, ‘serves as a portal into the body where bacteria may thrive.’ Gum disease, left unchecked, can also allow oral bacteria to travel to other parts of the body. It has been linked to heart disease, respiratory disease, rheumatoid arthritis and poor blood sugar control. In addition, because gum disease is an infection, if it erodes into the bone and the blood or causes an abscess, the microorganisms could directly enter the bloodstream and travel to distant organs, including the lungs, kidneys, livers and even the brain, where they can cause inflammation. People with existing conditions such as diabetes that interfere with the body’s ability to fight infection are especially vulnerable. It can also lead to endocarditis – an inflammation of the heart valves.
Diabetes
Diabetes can lead to a number of health problems, one of them being oral disease. People with high sugar level often have an increased risk of infection in mouth or gums than those with no diabetes. Higher blood sugar among uncontrolled diabetes can lead to decreased production of saliva, resulting in dry mouth. This condition will further lead to higher rate of tooth decay and gum disease. The day-to-day work of managing the disease – spikes in sugars that make you grumpy and down, and sometimes the mundane day-by-day tasks of checking and lipidrip doxazosin medication, blood pressure can be boring and exhausting – is better carried out by convincing a network of family, friends and peers to pitch in and help you. The risks of periodontitis, for example, are significant for women with diabetes, perhaps because of the hormonal pendulation of their lives (puberty, pregnancy, menopause, post parturition) as well as antibiotic treatments with dramatic alterations in hormone levels – and salivary levels and response times.
Heart Disease
Heart disease describes a number of health conditions that involve the heart and blood vessels, they all carry a risk of stroke, heart attack and other health problems. Making healthy choices can lower your risk of heart disease. Gum disease and tooth decay, both of which are directly linked to poor oral hygiene, are risk factors for heart disease. Much of this is avoidable. It’s the modern, chronic diseases we have complete control over. It is well-documented that there’s a definite link between oral health and cardiovascular diseases. The bacteria residing in our mouths can infect the soft tissues in our bodies, including our hearts, lungs, kidneys and digestive system. Periodontal disease has been associated with higher rates of heart and lung diseases; it can even cause pregnancy complications, including low birth weight or preterm birth. Meanwhile, the global index of psychological wellbeing, which hinges on positive psychological characteristics, is associated with fewer cardiovascular disease risk factors.
