Did you know that problems in your mouth influence your health in big ways, extending far from your teeth and gums? Here are just a few of the ways poor oral health contributes to poor general health.
Stress
Like any chronic ailment that causes pain, discomfort, or aesthetic problems, cavities and gum disease often lead to stress. This in turn can cause weight gain, poor sleep, high blood pressure, and a wealth of other secondary health problems.
Immune system
An infection in your tooth is an infection like any other, putting strain on your immune system and potentially causing infected material to spread through your body via your blood stream, inhalation into your lungs, etc. This can lead to chronic sickness if left untreated, even in otherwise healthy patients.
Heart disease and your Dental Health
The bacteria which causes cavities and gum disease, when left unattended in your mouth, can work their way to your heart and contribute to significant increases in heart disease. While not as important to your risk of heart disease as other factors, this is still very important to keeping your heart healthy.
Lung health
Aspiration of bacteria into your lungs due to untreated oral diseases can lead to significant problems with your lungs. Pneumonia, asthma, and other irritations and infections of the lung can all stem from problems in your mouth.
Sinuses
Your teeth and your sinuses are right against one another, so it should be no surprise that problems in one can lead to problems in the other. Just as sinus infections can make your teeth hurt when they’re perfectly fine, infections of your teeth can lead to sinus inflammation and infection. If you’re already prone to difficulties in your sinuses, this can quickly become unbearable or dangerous.
Aches and pains
The aches and pains caused by your teeth can extend far beyond your mouth. In addition to pain associated with sinus pressure or spread infections like we’ve discussed, problems in your mouth can lead to headaches, sore muscles in your head and neck; the tension can even lead soreness and aches in your upper back. All of this pain is bad for your mental and physical well-being, as we discussed in stress.
Find out more
Your teeth are as important as the rest of your body to your overall health. Contact us today and find out what our offices can do for you. Experienced general and cosmetic dentist Dr. Anna Aller and her associates will provide you with the best care available.
