Oral and overall health – get the connection

There is mounting evidence of a connection between oral health and a person’s overall health. It is well documented that a high percentage of health conditions have an oral component such as swollen or bleeding gums, ulcers, dry mouth, bad breath, metallic taste and various other changes in the oral cavity. Since most people have regular oral examinations, their dentist may be the first health care provider to diagnose a health problem in its early stages. Some health problems that your dentist may become aware of include the following:

• Diabetes. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, people with diabetes are more likely to have gum disease than people without diabetes. Researchers think this is because diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infection, and the gums are among the tissues likely to be affected.
• Cancer. As part of a routine dental exam, the dentist screens patients for oral cancers including cancer of the head and neck. Other cancers the dentist may recognize include skin cancer, cancer of the jaw bone and thyroid cancer.
• Heart disease. Studies have shown that people with moderate or advanced gum disease have a greater prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease and stroke, than patients with no gum disease, gingivitis or early periodontitis. However, studies have not established that one causes the other — a difficult task because many of the risk factors for gum disease and CVD (smoking, poor diet and nutrition, diabetes, being male and having a low socioeconomic status) are the same.
• Kidney disease. When the kidneys do not function properly, the by-products of incomplete protein breakdown are released. As a result, a patient with kidney disease may have bad breath and may also notice an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Other signs are dry mouth and a metallic taste. With dry mouth, the amount of saliva is reduced and its normal cleansing effect is diminished. This allows bacteria to increase, potentially leading to the development of gingivitis and gum disease.
• Anxiety. Did you know that emotional anxiety can affect your oral health? Stress affects the immune system, which fights against the bacteria that cause periodontal disease, making a person suffering from anxiety more prone to gum infection.
• Other medical conditions. There are more than 120 medical conditions – many of them life-threatening – that can be detected in the early stages by a dentist, including thyroid problems, high blood pressure, asthma, sleep and breathing disorders, skin rashes, bruxism (teeth grinding), HIV, tuberculosis, drug abuse, anorexia, digestive disorders and upper respiratory problems.

What can you do?

Maintenance of good oral health through regular dental visits and appropriate treatment of gum problems is critical for people with any of these health conditions. You can play a major role in preventing gum disease and improving your oral and overall health by:

• Brushing for two to three minutes, twice a day, with fluoridated toothpaste. Be sure to brush along the gumline.
• Flossing daily to remove plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach.
• Eating a healthy diet to provide essential nutrients (vitamins A and C, in particular).
• Avoiding cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.
• Carefully following your physician’s and dentist’s instructions about health care, including using prescription medications, such as antibiotics, as directed.
• Treating dental infections immediately.
• Sharing your complete medical history, including any medications you are currently taking, with your dentist.
• Limiting your alcohol intake.
• Calling your dentist to make an appointment to have your teeth professionally cleaned.

You can also educate yourself about the relationship between oral and overall health by subscribing to our e-newsletter, Dental Wire.

The oral health information on this website is intended for educational purposes only. You should always consult a licensed dentist or other qualified health care professional for any questions concerning your oral health.