Life Threatening Health Issues Caused by Your Bad Oral Health

Aching teeth, bleeding gums or bad breath invariably indicates poor oral health. Your oral health does not just concern the condition of your teeth and the gums. Rather, it reflects your overall physical condition. Your mouth is the primary gateway into your body. Harmful bacteria from your mouth easily find their way into your body and contribute to more severe health issues.

Experts from a popular private practice for oral health in London discuss some of the severe health complications that are caused by poor condition of the teeth and the gums.

• Stained or discoloured teeth: Poor oral health is a major reason behind heart diseases. The bacteria that are responsible for your inflamed gums and periodontal gum disease, can clog up your arteries if they manage to get into your bloodstream. The medical term for hardening of the arteries is atherosclerosis and it is a serious health condition. As a result of this, normal blood flow in your body is hampered, leading to heart blockages and increased chances of a heart attack. The condition of Endocarditis can develop when the harmful bacteria from the mouth reach your heart and affect the heart lining.
• Dementia: Recent studies show that your poor dental health is likely to affect your brain. Apart from dementia or memory loss, oral health specialists suspect that Alzheimer’s disease is also made worse by gingivitis or gum infection. You must immediately book an appointment with your dentist if you experience any signs or symptoms of gum diseases, tooth decay or any other dental problem.
• Respiratory infections: The respiratory system is likely to suffer because of poor dental health. Harmful bacteria responsible for your inflamed gums and infected teeth can also reach your lungs. Once they reach your lungs, you may suffer from respiratory infections, acute bronchitis, pneumonia and even Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD.
• Blood sugar: On one hand, diabetics are more easily susceptible to gum infections and periodontal diseases, while on the other, periodontal diseases make it more difficult to control diabetes. The blood sugar level can rise uncontrollably for people suffering from both diabetes and periodontal gum infections. Diabetics must take special care of their mouth to prevent plaque and tartar formation.

Continuous negligence is one of the primary causes of bad oral health. Don’t neglect your teeth and the gums under any circumstance. Your health and well-being are in your hands. Take care of your oral health and minimise your chances of developing other serious health issues.