dose22:23How does oral health affect your overall health?
Toronto dentist Dr. Amanda Morrell understands the direct relationship between good oral hygiene and overall health and wellness.
As the founder and director of Fill the Gap Dental Outreach, a charity that provides volunteer oral care to low-income patients who can’t afford dental treatment, Morel believes that poor oral hygiene affects the whole body. We regularly witness the negative effects it can have on our health.
“We sometimes see patients who have never been taught how to brush their teeth or how to floss, so they inevitably end up with a lot of bacteria in their mouths,” she says.
“There will be bacteria that can potentially get into the bloodstream and cause problems in different areas and organs of the body.”
Oral hygiene is more than just making your smile more attractive. Dental experts say a healthy mouth is a sign of overall health. Some evidence suggests That cavities, gum disease, and even bad breath can cause problems in other parts of your body.
Why is a healthy mouth so important?
Heather Kerr, president of the Canadian Dental Association, says humans use their mouths for both biological and sociological purposes.
”[A healthy mouth] You can sense smells and tastes correctly. If your mouth is healthy, you can chew without pain. You can swallow properly,” Kerr told CBC host Dr. Brian Goldman. dose.
“It allows you to communicate your emotions and improve your self-esteem.”
Having a healthy set of teeth also allows for clear communication, Morrell adds.
“If you don’t have front teeth, the sounds you make with your teeth will be slurred sounds,” she says.
Additionally, because of the way teeth are arranged in the mouth, when a tooth is damaged or missing, the pressure on the remaining teeth and the mouth itself changes.
“Occlusal pressure should ideally be shared between all teeth,” says Morel. “If you are missing multiple teeth, it can put too much pressure on your remaining teeth and cause problems such as tooth movement… [and] Teeth crack or break. ”
Fatty foods like fried chicken, sweet foods like candy, and acidic foods like steak sauce can all deteriorate healthy teeth and lead to problems such as cavities.
Regularly consuming carbonated drinks such as pop or drinking large amounts of caffeinated or alcoholic beverages can have a negative impact on your overall oral health. Alcoholic and caffeinated drinks not only dry out your mouth, but they are acidic and can lead to cavities.
Smoking is also a well-known cause of poor oral health.
The most common problems Kerr sees are cavities and periodontal disease.
How can unhealthy teeth affect the rest of your body?
Poor oral hygiene doesn’t just affect parts of your mouth like your teeth and gums. High levels of oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause heart and lung problems, she said.
“In the most serious cases, [bacteria] Once it gets into the bloodstream, it causes bacterial endocarditis,” Dr. Kerr said of the life-threatening inflammation of the lining of the heart’s valves and ventricles.
moreover, In some studies, people Periodontal disease can also cause your baby to have a low birth weight or be born prematurely.
“There is a proven relationship between oral health and general health,” Morrell says.
Maria Salome Lomlomdjian is a Toronto-area dentist who specializes in providing comprehensive dental care to patients with accessibility needs.
She regularly treats patients who do not eat by mouth but require regular dental visits to clean their mouths and protect their overall health.
Watch | Disability advocates seek improved access to dental care.
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“Patients who are hospitalized, intubated, or have cerebral palsy don’t eat by mouth, but they can still grow.” [bacteria] In your mouth,” she said.
“The patients [can] Bacteria grows in the mouth, eventually leading to pneumonia and death in the hospital. One way to prevent that, for example when I did a training program in Brazil, is to go and clean the mouths of patients who are intubated. ”
Morell added that oral diseases share common risk factors with chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and respiratory diseases.
She says that when she sees a patient’s gums become worse between dental appointments, she may suspect that the patient has undiagnosed diabetes, so she calls their primary care provider for testing. He recommends that patients undergo the procedure.
“If diabetes is not treated, or treated but blood sugar levels are not controlled, periodontal disease will definitely worsen,” she says.
“So the two go hand in hand.”
How does saliva help reduce bacteria?
Regular brushing and disease-free gums aren’t the only things that contribute to good oral health.
Adequate saliva levels in the mouth can reduce the chance of periodontal disease and tooth decay. Helps break down bacteria Otherwise, it will be harmful to other parts of the body.
“Saliva lubricates the teeth, helps move them and keep them clean,” Kerr said.
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Certain antihistamines, antidepressants, and even pain medications such as acetaminophen can all cause dry mouth.
“If you are receiving certain oral chemotherapy drugs or radiation therapy, it can also cause dry mouth.”
If you’re concerned about dry mouth, Kerr recommends carrying a water bottle with you to stay hydrated.
How often should I see the dentist?
Kerr says the frequency of dentist visits depends on the patient and their needs.
“Some people are fine once a year or more, while others see each other every two or three months,” she says.
“I think [every] Six months is a reasonable average for most people, but I think you should talk to your dentist about what’s right for you. ”
He said that on average, people should brush their teeth twice a day for at least two minutes each time and floss their teeth at least once a day.
