In recent years, doctors and dentist have come to understand that your oral health has a large impact on the health of the rest of your body. Considering this, it may be wise to pursue Glendora holistic dental practitioners with a keen understanding of the mouth’s relationship to the body. Here are just a few of the ways oral and overall health are linked.
Heart Disease
Though unpleasant to think about, your mouth is full of bacteria. Poor oral hygiene and failure to schedule regular dental hygiene visits allow this bacteria to increase in number, and it may not all stay in your mouth. Bacteria can easily find its way into your bloodstream and when it does, it leaves plaque on your arterial walls, narrowing and weakening the arteries. This increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. The bacteria can also reach and infect the lining of the heart, causing endocarditis.
Dementia
By caring for your teeth, your Glendora dentist may also be saving you from a life of confusion. Just as bacteria in your blood can travel to your heart, it can also travel to your brain. There are also nerve channels between your mouth and brain that bacteria can travel through. Oral bacteria that enters the brain can cause dementia and confusion, and may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.
Respiratory Infections
Every time you inhale, you risk pulling oral bacteria into your airway where it can cause infections, including pneumonia. Chronic or frequent respiratory infections may be a sign it’s time to visit a Glendora CA dental professional.
Diabetes, AIDS, HIV and osteoporosis are also know to share a symbiotic relationship with oral health. It seems these diseases can worsen gum disease and oral health. At the same time, poor oral health can allow these disease to create more issues within the body. Put simply, the mouth is part of your body and its health as just as important as that of other body parts.
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Ecco Dental is a Glendora family dental office that is dedicated to the practice of holistic dentistry.