Potential Risks of Poor Dental Health

Taking care of your teeth is important for much more than simple cosmetic reasons. You may know that if your oral health is bad, you’ll be at higher risk of tooth decay, tooth loss, and gum disease. However, the ramifications don’t stop there. Good dental health is actually crucial to your overall health and well-being. A Miami Beach, FL dentistry center lists some potential health risks that have been tied to poor oral health below.

Heart Disease

Certain heart problems, including endocarditis and cardiovascular disease, have also been linked to gum disease. The bacteria can travel from your mouth to your vital organs, via your bloodstream. 

Pregnancy/Conception

Are you trying to conceive, or perhaps already expecting? If so, take extra care of your mouth. Periodontis has been linked to infertility. It’s also been tied to low birth weight and premature labor.

Respiratory Diseases

The bacteria in your mouth can also get into your lungs, either through breathing or through the bloodstream. This can potentially cause, contribute to, or aggravate various respiratory issues, such as pneumonia, acute bronchitis, and even COPD.

Diabetes

This one is a catch-22. Having diabetes increases your chances of developing periodontal disease, which in turn can make it harder to control diabetes. That’s because the infection can cause blood sugar to spike or drop.

Brain Health

Did you know that if the bacteria from gingivitis or gum disease reaches the brain, it can actually kill brain cells? This can lead to memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Serious mouth infections, such as abscesses, can also cause brain infections if left untreated. In severe cases, such infections can be fatal. 

Nutrition

Poor dental health can also wreak havoc with your digestive system. If you can’t chew properly, your body will have difficulty extracting nutrients from food. 

Cancer

Mouth and throat cancers are often tied to tobacco use, which in itself is harmful to oral health. Bad dental health also increases the risk of other cancers, such as blood cancer, pancreatic cancer, and kidney cancer.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

A study by the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society reported that gum disease can make you four times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. The connecting link? Inflammation, which the bacteria from gum disease can cause or contribute to.

Do you need to make an appointment? Contact us, your Miami Beach, FL dentistry center today!