If you’re like most folks, you may think poor oral health only affects the mouth. Fair enough – teeth and gum problems spreading past your grin can initially sound far-fetched. With that said, this assumption is plain wrong; an unhealthy smile can cause various full-body issues. Neglecting your oral cavity would thus put your life (or at least its quality) at risk. For more details, keep reading to learn about four full-body issues caused by an ailing mouth.
Respiratory Infections
When a grin gets unhealthy, make sure to check your lungs. It turns out that oral issues are associated with respiratory illnesses and infections.
Gum disease appears to be the underlying cause. Since the bacteria from infected gums can travel through your body, these microbes can upset your respiratory system. Such aggravation often leads to infections like bronchitis, pneumonia, and even chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). You’ll want to avoid (or quickly treat) infected gums to prevent these problems.
Diabetes
Your smile and your body’s blood sugar are more related than you’d think. Apparently, some oral health issues make diabetes more likely.
It once again comes down to gum disease’s lesser-known effects. When bacteria from this infection spread, they can enter your bloodstream and affect blood sugar control. This loss of control often results in higher-than-normal blood glucose levels, increasing your risk of diabetes. Even worse is that the resulting diabetes could make your gum disease more severe.
Cancer
Oral and throat cancers are the only kinds that occur in your mouth. Still, mouth-related problems elevate your risk for other types as well.
None other than Johns Hopkins Medicine reached this startling conclusion. After careful study, its researchers noted a 24% increase in cancer risk among gum disease patients. This rise was even more prominent in regard to pancreatic cancer, but the exact reason is unknown.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Body joins can seem like the furthest thing from your smile. Nonetheless, an unhealthy mouth is known to contribute to rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
While the finding has support from varied sources, a 2019 study offers a great example. This research found that gum disease bacteria can inflame the whole body, not just one’s gum tissues. Such inflammation will sometimes reach your bones to cause arthritis, weakening your joints. The result is usually fatigue, painful joints, fever, and similar symptoms.
To keep your whole body strong, don’t ignore poor oral health. See your dental provider soon for the relevant treatment(s)!
About the Practice
Family Dentistry of Boynton Beach is based in Boynton Beach, FL. Led by Drs. Huyghues-Despointes and Rodriguez, our practice provides comfy, low-cost, and convenient dental care. Patients can trust us for treatments that span preventive work to complex smile restorations. To that extent, we’re always ready and able to give your whole family great grins! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (561)-737-1223.