If you think about the way the body, it’s hard to glaze over how much each part of the body interacts with one another. Particularly, when you think about the oral cavity, we know that our throat leads into our esophagus, which then leads into our stomach and intestines. This being said, if we have bad bacteria in the body or enter the body, it has the potential to lead all the way into the stomach. The oral cavity also has soft tissue, which connects straight into the blood stream. This is why when we take medicine, we are affected.
Understanding this, oral health is incredibly powerful and can link to overall body health. This is called the mouth-body connection or the oral-systemic connection.
This connection becomes primarily important when you are suffering from periodontal disease. Periodontal disease develops when gingivitis is left untreated. Periodontal disease, or often referred to as periodontitis has been associated with a number of health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. Many risk factors associated with periodontal and systemic diseases include smoking or poor diet. If you suffer from periodontitis or you know you are diabetic or can be prone or have heart disease, you should immediately seek dental attention.
Gum disease is manageable and preventable, which means at the first sign of disease, you should seek dental attention. Periodontists everywhere are turning to advanced technology, like lasers to demolish any sign of gum disease, including other growth of bacteria. Laser dentistry is used to kill diseased gum tissue, and prevent more soft tissue from becoming diseased. Other ways to prevent gum disease is to manage your oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth as a part of your daily routine is essential. Brushing your teeth, twice, day and night will help prevent excess bacteria from growing, and reduce harmful plaque and other food debris from collecting. Flossing is also important, as it removes any debris and collecting food and plaque from in between the teeth, where your toothbrush bristles cannot reach.
If you are suffering with gum disease, you should see your periodontist for professional attention. It is important to keep your oral cavity healthy to ensure you are not causing any other bodily health issues to arise.
