Your Mouth is a Mirror of Your Body

A growing but still limited amount of research, for example, has discovered that periodontal disease is linked to a variety of health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory infections, and dementia.

According to Dr. Bray, the exact mechanism by which mouth bacteria affect your overall health is still unknown because present research is restricted and no studies have shown cause-and-effect.

Yet, some illnesses are more closely linked to dental health than others, according to specialists. Here’s what we know so far.

Common Oral Diseases

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 47 percent of adults aged 30 and older in the United States have some kind of periodontal disease.

Gingivitis causes the gums to swell, become red or painful, and bleed easily in its early stages. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, a more serious form of the disease in which the gums recede, bones are destroyed, and teeth may become loose or even fall out.

“Bacteria and their hazardous byproducts can travel from the surface of the gums and teeth into the circulation, where they can spread to numerous organs”, says Ananda P. Dasanayake, an epidemiology professor at the New York University College of Dentistry.

He said that this might happen during a dental cleaning or flossing, or if you have a cut or wound inside your mouth.

If you have untreated oral inflammation, some of the proteins that cause it can move throughout the body and potentially harm other organs, according to Dr. Bray.

The Link Between Diabetes and Dental Health

Dr. Bray stated that of all the links between oral health and disease, the one with the most evidence is the one between periodontal disease and diabetes. And the two requirements appear to be mutually exclusive, she added: diabetes appears to increase the risk of periodontal disease, and vice versa.

Researchers aren’t sure how this works, but one review published in 2017 suggested that periodontal disease’s systemic inflammation may impair the body’s capacity to communicate with and respond to insulin.

Another study, published in April, discovered that diabetics who were treated for periodontal disease reported a reduction in overall healthcare expenses of 12 to 14 percent.

“You cure periodontitis, you improve diabetes,” Dr. Dasanayake explained.

Did you Know that Pneumonia can be Triggered by Poor Dental Health?

Bacterial aspiration pneumonia can occur when large concentrations of bacteria from the mouth are breathed in and settle in the lungs, according to Dr. Frank Scannapieco, professor of oral biology at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine.

This phenomenon has been observed primarily in hospitalized patients and elderly people in nursing homes, and it is a concern for those who are unable to floss or brush their teeth on their own, according to Dr. Martinna Bertolini, an assistant professor of dental medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine.

Preventative dental care, such as expert teeth cleanings or periodontal therapies such as antibiotic therapy, can lower the risk of developing this kind of pneumonia, Dr. Scannapieco said.

Teeth to Heart

A worldwide committee of specialists found in a 2020 report that there is a considerable association between periodontitis and heart attack, stroke, plaque formation in the arteries, and other cardiovascular problems.

While researchers have not yet discovered how poor dental health may contribute to poor heart health, some data suggests that periodontal bacteria from the mouth may migrate to the arteries of vascular disease patients, perhaps contributing to the disease’s development.

In addition, the American Heart Association stated in 2012 that gum inflammation has been related to greater levels of inflammatory proteins in the blood, which have been connected to poor heart health.

Some research also suggests that better oral hygiene practices are linked with lower rates of heart disease.

For example, in a 2019 study, researchers reviewed the health records of nearly 250,000 healthy adults in South Korea and discovered that those who brushed their teeth regularly and received regular dental cleanings were less likely to have cardiovascular events than those who had poorer dental hygiene, formed more cavities, experienced tooth loss, or developed periodontitis over 10 years.

Poor Oral Hygiene can Complicate Pregnancy

According to Dr. Dasanayake, several studies and reviews have identified links between severe periodontal disease and preterm, low-birth-weight kids. Further study is required to confirm the link. Researchers discovered that treating periodontal disease during pregnancy enhanced birth weight and lowered the risk of preterm delivery and fetal or neonatal death in a 2019 review.

Researchers discovered that treating periodontal disease during pregnancy enhanced birth weight and lowered the risk of preterm delivery and fetal or neonatal death in a 2019 review.

In a 2009 study, researchers discovered that oral bacteria can migrate to the placenta, perhaps contributing to chorioamnionitis, a dangerous infection of the placenta and amniotic fluid that can lead to early delivery or even life-threatening consequences if left untreated.

According to research, germs from your mouth may stimulate immune cells that circulate in your blood, creating inflammation in the womb and potentially distressing the placenta and fetal organs.

Periodontitis has long been linked to preterm delivery in animals such as mice, and treating these illnesses helps protect against low birth weights and preterm birth.

Researchers have become increasingly interested in the significance of dental health in dementia, particularly Alzheimers disease, according to Dr. Scannapieco.

“Bacteria present in the mouth have been identified in the brain tissue of patients with Alzheimer’s,” he said, hinting that they may have a role in the condition.

According to a recent analysis, oral bacteria, particularly those associated with periodontitis, can either directly damage the brain via “infection of the central nervous system” or indirectly by producing “chronic systemic inflammation” that reaches the brain.

Nonetheless, the review authors concluded that there is no evidence that oral bacteria alone can cause Alzheimer’s disease. Periodontal disease, on the other hand, is merely one of numerous “risk factors” for persons who are susceptible to Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

Can Oral Health be Connected to Cancer?

Oral bacteria have also been strongly related to several other illnesses, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis, according to Dr. Bray. In addition, new research is beginning to connect mouth bacteria to kidney and liver illness, as well as colorectal and breast malignancies.

But more research is needed to confirm all of these linkages, according to the experts. We also don’t know if routine dental care and periodontal therapies can help prevent or improve any of the problems listed above, according to Dr. Scannapieco.

According to Dr. Scannapieco, the best method to maintain good oral health is to follow traditional dental care instructions, such as brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing every day.

“Not everyone values their dental health, and they’re only reminded of it when they get a toothache or some pain,” he noted. But, it is critical to be as persistent and proactive about your dental health as you are about exercise, diet, or any other part of your well-being.

Reference :

1. Oral microbiome and health- (https:www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6605021/)

Source: Medindia