Oral-Systemic link
Oral health is not something we think about regularly.
However, in conjunction with the national dental health promotion week, it’s good to take a few minutes to ponder about that.
Fact: The health of your mouth affects the health of your body in many ways.
If you have dental caries, gum disease, bad breath, shaky teeth, recurrent ulcers in your mouth, this article is exactly for you.
Many epidemiological studies have suggested that oral infection, especially marginal and apical periodontitis may be a risk factor for systemic diseases.
What kind of diseases are we talking about here?
1) Heart disease: The bacteria from inflammation of the gums and periodontal disease can enter your bloodstream and travel to the arteries in the heart and cause atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Atherosclerosis causes plaque to develop on the inner walls of arteries which thicken and this decreases or may block blood flow through the body. This can cause an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. The inner lining of the heart can also become infected and inflamed, a condition known as endocarditis. Also, poor dental status is shown to lead to a 2.6-fold increased risk of stroke!
2) Neurocognitive disorder: The bacteria from gingivitis may enter the brain through either nerve channels in the head or through the bloodstream, that might even lead to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers from the UK discovered the presence of a bacterium called Porphyromonas gingivalis in the brains of patients who had dementia when they were alive. The bug is usually associated with chronic periodontal (gum) disease.
3) Diabetic complications: Inflammation of the gum tissue and periodontal disease can make it harder to control your blood sugar and make your diabetes symptoms worse. It also works the other way, i.e., diabetes affecting oral health. People living with Diabetes are also more susceptible to periodontal disease, making proper dental care even more important for those with this disease.
4) Respiratory infections: Many people don’t know this, but gum disease could cause you to get infections in your lungs, including pneumonia. Take a second to think of what might happen from breathing in bacteria from infected teeth and gums over an extended period. Critically ill patients and institutionalized elderly persons frequently have bad mouth hygiene, which results in a substantial oral microbial burden, subsequent microbial aspiration, and resultant respiratory tract infections.
5) Poor nutrition: When infection from the teeth becomes untreatable, it has to be extracted. Hence, tooth loss. Evidence has shown that people with some or completely missing teeth change their eating habits. They may thereby avoid certain nutritious foods because of difficulty in chewing and select high-calorie, high-fat diet. When the meals cannot be well pulverized, this affects the internal absorption of nutrients.
How do we reduce the risks of getting those disease?
Simple, just as what the dentists told us way back when we were in school:
- Brush and floss your teeth daily
- Visit the dentist every 6 months
- Reduce sugary foods and drinks
It’s simple, but not necessarily easy for some of us. Start cultivating those good habits today for a lifetime of healthy smiles!
Written by,
Dr Edward Tay
Dr Edward Tay is a dentist with interest in preventive dentistry and empowering others in oral self-care. This article is publish in conjunction with “Minggu Kesedaran Kesihatan Pergigian”.
References
1) Masthan, M., Anitha, N., Jacobina, J., & Babu, N. (2016). Oral Infections Causing Systemic Diseases. Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal,9(2), 863-866. doi:10.13005/bpj/1019
2) Casamassimo, P. S. (2000). Relationships Between Oral And Systemic Health. Pediatric Clinics of North America,47(5), 1149-1157. doi:10.1016/s0031-3955(05)
3) Slavkin, H. C. (2000). Relationship of Dental and Oral Pathology to Systemic Illness. Jama,284(10), 1215. doi:10.1001/jama.284.10.1215
[This article belongs to The Malaysian Medical Gazette. Any republication (online or offline) without written permission from The Malaysian Medical Gazette is prohibited.]