Teeth cleanings are not just important for your oral health but also for your overall health. When your mouth isn’t healthy, other parts and systems of your body can suffer, too. For example, there is a demonstrated association between gum disease and various health conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
There are a host of other correlations with taking good care of your oral health and the rest of your well-being. Let’s explore a few of the reasons teeth cleanings are essential for contributing to your overall health.
How Can Gum Disease Lead to Other Health Problems?
Your gums and your mouth are very vascular areas of your body. When you get an infection in your mouth, it’s very easy for the bacteria causing it to enter your bloodstream and cause bacteremia, also known as sepsis.
After entering your bloodstream, the bacteria can travel to other parts of your body, including your kidneys and heart. For this reason, if you have a bad oral infection, your dentist may elect to put you on antibiotics prior to doing any dental work.
With regular teeth cleanings, your dentist can spot problems beginning before they get too serious. They will also clean your teeth, which keeps the bacteria load in your mouth in check.
How Does Gum Disease Affect Susceptibility to Other Diseases?
In addition to the spread of bacteria throughout the body, periodontitis (advanced gum disease) can also increase your susceptibility to other conditions. This is because the bacteria in your mouth represent a constant reservoir of inflammation-inducing factors known as cytokines.
Inflammation is your body’s response to an infection and can be helpful in some cases. But when it goes on for a long period of time, it causes more problems than it solves. The substances that are produced by your body because of inflammation can enter your bloodstream and cause the formation of certain fatty substances and the deposition of cholesterol. These symptoms can lead to coronary artery disease.
When these substances are released throughout your body, you become more susceptible to certain systemic diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. That’s a strong argument for getting regular teeth cleanings to prevent periodontitis.
Then There’s the Tooth Loss Gum Disease Causes.
If you don’t get regular teeth cleanings, the resulting gum disease can also cause you to lose your teeth. In addition, studies have shown that people who lose teeth often change their dietary habits.
There’s a domino effect as teeth decay, causing pain or changing chewing behaviors. Patients end up avoiding more nutritious foods because they are more challenging to chew. They opt instead for foods that are higher in fat and calories. That can increase the risk of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
Schedule a Teeth Cleaning Today!
At Grand Avenue Dental, we’re passionate about helping our patients stay healthy. Schedule teeth cleaning today to take good care of your oral health and the health of the rest of your body too!