How Your Oral Health Can Affect Your Entire Body

Achieving good oral health can affect the overall health of your body in a positive way. The bacteria and germs that build up in your mouth transfer throughout your entire body, if you do not take proper precautions. A regular brushing and flossing routine can help prevent the harmful bacteria and germs from traveling to other parts of your body. Dentists recommend brushing twice a day, once in the morning and another time in the evening. This can help eliminate the build up of bacteria and plaque in your mouth. Flossing once daily also helps remove some of the harder to reach germs from in-between your teeth. Access Dental and Dentures is here to help inform you about the risks that can come along with a poor oral care.

The Mouth is Gateway to the Body:

Everything we eat or drink, and even the air we breathe, travels through our mouth, therefore the mouth builds up quite a bit of bacteria throughout the day. Once these germs are built up, they can enter the blood stream through your tongue, gums, and saliva. In one way or another everything that enters the mouth will transfer throughout the body, whether it is good or bad.

How Saliva Can Help or Hinder the Body:

Saliva carries a large portion of the mouth contents into the body. If you have good oral care, this process is beneficial, delivering clean saliva to help the body function properly. On the flip side, if you have poor oral care, the saliva in your mouth will bring germs and bacteria into your body. If you have too much bad bacteria build up, it can cause an infection or a number of other health issues.

Conditions Linked to Poor Oral Health:

Diabetes-

Gum disease can cause diabetic symptoms to worsen, by restricting the blood flow. People who have diabetes have difficulties keeping glucose levels in check.  Improperly managed glucose levels in the mouth can encourage bacteria to grow and will travel throughout the body.

Heart Problems-

Periodontal disease, which is a chronic bacterial infection in the gums, increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke. The infection can move through the body via saliva, if it is built up in the mouth.

Pregnancy Issues-

Oral health issues have been known to cause the risk of preterm birth in pregnant women. Bacteria in the body can increase infection, which may lead to an issue with pregnancy.

Arthritis-

Bacteria in the blood system is thought to lead to the development of arthritis in the joints, quicker than it would with good oral health.

Respiratory Illness-

Lungs get a large amount of bacteria that has built up in the mouth. This can cause a number of respiratory issues including pneumonia and emphysema.

Help Protect Your Body with Access Dental:

To help protect your body from an excess of unnecessary bacteria, consider taking better care of your mouth. If you are concerned that you have an issue with your oral health, consult a dentist in Southern Missouri. To help keep your oral care in check, establish a good cleaning regimen of brushing twice and flossing once a day. For further information about how to achieve good oral health, schedule an appointment with the best dentist in Springfield, MO. 

We want to be your dentist because your family deserves a great smile!

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Springfield Office                         Rolla Office                     Osage Beach Office
(417) 501-1048                              (573) 426-5447                  (573) 348-1466
1701 West Sunshine                      416 S. Bishop Ave.            4320 Osage Beach Parkway

 Springfield, MO 65807                   Rolla, MO 65401               Osage Beach, MO. 65065