Can Your Oral Health Impact the Rest of Your Body?

Maintaining a good dental care routine is important, but no matter how clean your mouth is, it will always contain oral bacteria. More than 1,000 different species regularly populate the human mouth, and the microbes actually play a beneficial part in digestion by breaking up residual food left on your teeth. When oral bacteria become unbalanced due to poor dental care, smoking, drinking alcohol, or malnutrition, the result is a buildup of dental plaque that leads to problems like gum disease, premature tooth loss, and more.

Your mouth is not the only victim of oral bacteria. Studies have established links between high levels of oral bacteria and conditions such as stroke, heart disease, obesity, infertility, and low birth weight. A study of 37 hospitalized patients revealed that changes in oral bacteria occurred just prior to the onset of pneumonia. The findings led to health authorities warning that dental hygiene neglect can lead to the potentially fatal lung disease. Other research has found that oral bacteria in the bloodstream may be linked to joint inflammation and the failure of prosthetic joints. High levels of oral bacteria may also be associated with osteoporosis in the jaw, which can lead to tooth loosening and dental abscesses.

Serious medical problems caused by oral bacteria can be a frightening topic, but reducing your risk is simple; don’t neglect your oral health. An affordable dentist in South Bend can help you learn more. Dentists know that proper dental hygiene for kids and adults helps them live healthier lives, and they have many tools, treatments, and recommendations to offer. Visit your dentist to learn more about the relationship between oral bacteria and your general health.

To learn about our family dentistry practice in South Bend, call The Dental Center of Indiana today or make an appointment.