Oral health mirrors overall health

The importance of overall health

Oral health means more than just an attractive smile. Poor oral health and untreated oral diseases and conditions can have a significant impact on your quality of life. In many cases, the condition of the mouth mirrors the condition of the body as a whole. Recent reports indicate a relationship between periodontal (gum) disease and stroke, heart disease and pre-term low-birth weight babies. Likewise more than 90 percent of all systemic diseases have oral manifestations, meaning your dentist may be the first healthcare provider to diagnose a health problem.

What problems can poor oral health cause?

According to recently released Surgeon General’s report on oral health in America, a large percentage of the population suffers from a reduced quality of life due to oral and facial pain. This pain is largely due to infections of the gums that support the teeth and can lead to tooth loss. More than 75% of the population is affected by some type of periodontal disease or gingivitis.

Recent reports show that infections in the mouth may affect major organs. One example is bacterial endocarditis, a condition in which the lining of the heart and heart valves become inflamed. Poor mouth care also may contribute to oral cancer, which now takes more lives than cervical or skin cancer.

In addition, poor oral health affects the digestive process. Chewing begins digestion with physical and chemical activities in the mouth. Problem here lead to poor absorption of nutrients, intestinal failure, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other problems.

What symptoms from other disease show up in the mouth?

Mouth tissues reflect symptoms of other problems. Many diseases can be diagnosed in their early stages through an oral examination. These diseases may be characterized by swollen gums, mouth ulcers, dry mouth and changes in the appearance of your tongue. Some of these diseases include diabetes, leukemia, cancer, heart disease and kidney disease.

What can I do?

Seeing a dentist every six months can help identify diseases in their earliest stages. It is also important to provide your dentist with a complete medical/ dental history and to inform him of any recent problems, even if they seem unrelated to your mouth.

If you have any questions about this article or your oral health, please feel free to contact Dr. Rohm. He'll be glad to answer your questions.