Having a beautiful set of teeth after drug addiction

The Effects of Dental Problems on Your Health

by Danielle Fletcher

Tooth decay, cavities, toothaches, and gum disease are some of the common tooth problems reported by dentists. It is recommended that you visit your family dentist the first instance you notice a problem with your mouth or teeth. Leaving some of these conditions unattended may have adverse effects on your overall health and well-being. The following are some of the effects of tooth problems on your health. 

Cardiovascular Disease

If you suffer from periodontal diseases – gum disease – the bacteria from inflammation of your gums may enter your bloodstream and into arteries in your heart. Entry of these bacteria into heart arteries may lead to atherosclerosis – hardening of arteries. Subsequently, plaque may develop in the inner walls of the arteries. The result is thickening of the arteries and may block blood flow in the body.

People with gum disease are two times more likely to have cardiovascular disease compared to people with healthy gums.

Diabetes

Inflammation of gum tissue makes it hard for your body to control its blood sugar levels. This explains why a vast majority of people who have diabetes also have periodontal disease.

Dementia

Simply put, dementia is loss of memory. Tooth loss – caused by poor dental health – is a major risk factor for dementia and early stage Alzheimer disease. The inflammation from gums trigger increased brain inflammation that can cause brain cell death. Less brain cells means there are not as many there for memory.

Respiratory Problems

Gum disease is a risk factor for infection of your lung. If your mouth is infected with bacteria due to gingivitis or other dental problems, it means that you always breathe in bacteria from your infected mouth. Subsequently, it may lead to pneumonia or bronchitis.

Stroke

Strokes are caused by several factors. Two of the causes include blood clots and narrowing of artery walls. Oral bacteria may cause narrowing of the artery walls, ultimately leading to a stroke. Similarly, oral bacteria can cause blood clots due to the human body's negative response to a bloodstream contaminated with bacteria.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. Anyone who has this disorder and gets gum diseases needs to see their family dentist as soon as possible. Periodontal disease can worsen the pain already felt by the person with the disorder.

Pregnancy Complications

Pregnancy is another reason why any mother should see a family dentist as soon as they notice any problem with their teeth. Dental disease can increase the risks of having a pre-term baby.

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