It’s no secret that having a great set of teeth adds to people’s appeal, but we’re all well aware by now that having your pearly whites look good extends beyond that. We’ve all got our resident dentists to thank for helping us achieve picture-perfect teeth, but these professionals offer more than just a beaming smile. Your mouth is the window to your overall health, which is why regular dental checkups are crucial in preventing and managing systemic conditions throughout your body. In this article, let’s talk about how your oral cavity affects everything from your heart to your respiratory system.
Understanding how the mouth and body serve as a two-way street.
The relationship between your body and mouth is correlative, seeing how one always affects the other and vice versa. Dentists and other healthcare professionals rely on this mouth-body connection to keep an eye out for the early warning signs of certain diseases. After all, not only does poor oral health affect your body, but having diseases and their respective symptoms can also manifest in your oral cavity.
The root of all of these ailments stems from a single microorganism: bacteria. In case you didn’t know, your mouth is home to different types of bacteria, but don’t panic! Most of these are pretty harmless, but having poor oral hygiene can lead to adverse effects. If left unchecked, these bacteria can multiply and start attacking the enamel of your tooth, which leads to a cavity. There’s also a high chance that if you don’t have a cavity, you could develop gum disease, which leaves your gums inflamed or bleeding. If left untreated, this gum disease could further develop into periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease that affects the structure that supports your teeth, and at worst, can lead to tooth loss.
If you think that’s bad enough, wait until you hear how the bacteria can enter your bloodstream and, through the inflamed gums, travel to different parts of your body. If you’re already suffering from a systemic disease, then it’s highly likely that it could worsen your condition. Illnesses like diabetes or other autoimmune diseases can weaken your immune system, making it hard for your body to fight infections.
The importance of detecting early warning signs of systemic illnesses.
This is why it’s crucial to schedule dental appointments at least twice a year. Adawn Brunswick dentists, as well as other dental professionals, have trained eyes and vast knowledge, allowing them to spot the early warning signs of possible underlying diseases. Many of these systemic diseases show manifestation in the mouth before they’re seen elsewhere in the body, especially for individuals who are suspected of or suffering from the diseases below:
Diabetes. Compared to others, people who have diabetes are more prone to infections and gum disease. Because of this, dentists are often on the lookout for certain symptoms like persistent gum inflammation, swelling, or slow-healing mouth sores, to name a few. If a patient has one or more of these symptoms, then there’s a chance that they may have undiagnosed or poorly controlled diabetes.
Cardiovascular disease. There is a direct link between the mouth and heart, and many studies have shown that the inflammation brought about by periodontitis is tied to the hardening of the arteries of the heart, AKA atherosclerosis.
Oral cancer. Screening for oral cancer is usually conducted by a dentist during every dental check-up. They check for unusual lesions, bumps, or any other abnormalities that may be a telltale sign of oral cancer. Through early detection, they can plan for less invasive treatments and increase the success rate for the treatment of oral cancer.
Nutritional deficiencies. Besides the aforementioned diseases, the condition of your teeth and gums can also reveal the nutritional deficiencies you may suffer from, like how you may be deficient in vitamin C if you have scurvy.
How regular dental checkups have economic and quality-of-life benefits.
Besides ensuring that your overall oral cavity is healthy and well-maintained, dental checkups also have economic advantages that are beneficial to your overall quality of life.
For one, it saves you from additional expenses that come from treating advanced oral health problems. Dental visits are far cheaper than root canals or extractions, treatments that are deemed necessary to help address the pain and improve your smile. Usually, these treatments only mean that your tooth is beyond saving and the cavities have progressed so either because of neglect or your worsening systemic condition. This is why proactive care is the most cost-effective solution to such instances, rather than reactive crisis management.
