How Poor Oral Health Can Negatively Impact Your Body

How you care for your teeth and gums can make a big difference in the way you feel. With regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing as well as maintaining your six-month dental checkups and cleanings with your dentist in Weyauwega, you can avoid many of the most common oral and health-related conditions. But what if tooth decay and/or gum disease become a problem for your smile? Can it negatively affect your body, too? Read on to find out how vulnerable your immune system can be when harmful bacteria are building in your mouth.

Bacteria’s Role in Breaking Down Oral and Overall Health

If you think about it, everything you consume passes through your mouth and into your body. Also, germs, bacteria, and viruses are easily breathed in and transferred into your mouth, which can ultimately enter into your bloodstream. When bad bacteria builds in your oral cavity as a result of harmful pathogens or poor oral hygiene, it can cause plaque for form, which will begin to eat away at your teeth and gum tissue.

If caught in the early stages, your dentist can reverse the symptoms of gingivitis. It also helps if you have a healthy immune system, as it will begin to fight off the infection and minimize chances of it progressing beyond its initial stage. But if left untreated, it can escalate to periodontitis, which is when the bacteria begin to attack your bone as well as your teeth and gums. When advanced gum disease is present, your immune system may be unable to fight off the infection, allowing your body to become vulnerable to numerous diseases the moment bacteria enter into the bloodstream.

Ways Bacteria and Infection Impact the Body

Because it is not normal for mouth-forming bacteria to enter into your blood, the moment it does, it will begin to travel to various areas, causing problems along the way. You should understand that as your immune system attempts to fight off the infection in your mouth, it will spend less time combatting problems in other areas of your body.

The most common immune-related disease includes:

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Asthma
• HIV/AIDS

Not to mention, when faced with gum disease, the infection that enters through your bloodstream can cause various problems to develop if they are not already causing a weakened immune system, such as:

• Heart Disease
• Diabetes
• Neurological conditions (i.e. Alzheimer’s, Dementia)
• Respiratory Disease
• Kidney Disease

Ways to Keep Your Immune System Strong

First and foremost, if you are not already practicing good oral habits at home, now is the time to start. Regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing will ensure harmful bacteria and food particles do not remain in your mouth and have a chance to attack your soft oral tissues or eat away at your tooth enamel. Continuing to see your dentist for regular dental checkups and cleanings is also important, as they will be able to detect any problems early on and begin immediate treatment.

You should also find ways to incorporate well-balanced, nutrient-rich foods (i.e. leafy greens, fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, low-fat dairy) and exercise into your daily routine. If you struggle with copious amounts of stress, learning how to relax can help as well as eliminating bad habits such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption.

As COVID-19 continues to threaten the global population, it is now more important than ever to do what you can to maintain good oral and overall health. Should you need tips or assistance to improve your at-home dental habits, reach out to your dentist in Weyauwega.

About the Author
Dr. William Twohig has dedicated the last 20 of his 40 years of practicing dentistry searching for alternative methods to offer his patients. Working with a large group of natural practitioners, chiropractors, acupuncturists, traditional doctors, and specialists, he and his staff practice a natural and holistic approach. Taking gum health seriously, Dr. Twohig and his team offer periodontal disease treatment that is designed to remove the infection and get you back on the path to better oral and overall health. To find out how we can help you, visit our website or call (920) 867-3101.