As a child, you were likely reminded about the importance of dental hygiene. You were told to brush in soft, circular motions, and to floss every day! Taking care of your teeth is important if you want to keep chewing on your favourite foods later in life.
But did you know your oral health impacts more than just your mouth? Poor dental health can have an effect on a range of different health issues – often because of bacteria travelling through the bloodstream from infections in the gums. Like a river clouded by debris!
Here are some things to consider:
Your Heart
Your heart works hard. It’s constantly pumping blood and vital nutrients to all parts of your body. What this means, is that all blood passes through it – and everything within that blood too.
When bacteria from gum inflammation travels to the heart it can encourage plaque to develop on the inner walls of the arteries. The walls then thicken, blocking blood flow. This can cause an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. The inner lining of the heart can also become inflamed as a result.
Your Lungs
Did you know having good oral hygiene can help you breathe easier? Infections in the lungs, including pneumonia, can sometimes be exacerbated as a result of bacteria from the mouth being inhaled.
Your lungs can handle a lot – but breathing in bacteria over a prolonged period is definitely not in their job description.
Diabetes
Inflammation of the gum tissue and periodontal disease can make diabetic symptoms worse as it can affect the body’s ability to control blood sugar. It also works in reverse. Diabetics are at a higher risk of developing oral diseases due to a lower resistance to infections.
Cancer
Recent studies have shown that having a good oral hygiene routine significantly helps to reduce the risk of getting oral cancer.
Oral cancers in the mouth are usually broken down into three areas: the lips, inside the mouth and the tongue. It can also be found in the throat, called the Oropharynx. Throat cancer is generally found in the back of the tongue, back of the roof of the mouth, the tonsils, and the area in the upper throat.
When being treated for cancer, it is important that your dental visits are planned very carefully. Be sure to talk to your specialist before undergoing any procedures.
Some side effects of cancer treatment can include:
- soreness and ulcers
- mouth infections
- bleeding gums
- dry mouth
- taste changes
At Azura, we Put Your Wellbeing First. Our dentists have comprehensive medical backgrounds, allowing them to see past the dental. We also partner with a select group of GPs and specialists, so that if we find something we can’t treat, we can refer you to someone who can.
Sometimes, health problems don’t end in the mouth and when that happens, we’ll know. It’s not just about your mouth. We look after your whole being!
We’d love to welcome you to our brand new surgery – it’s designed to put you at ease, with the same friendly Jetty St. Dentists team and same great prices.
