Do Chronic Conditions Impact Your Oral Health?
Chronic diseases and your oral health are often a mutual interchange. Some chronic diseases cause problems for your oral health, and some oral health issues have been linked to specific chronic diseases or conditions. Systemic diseases such as lupus may have some oral health symptoms. Regular dental care with Dr. Angela S. Evanson, DDS will help alleviate problems as they arise. Your mouth is the perfect environment for bacteria, which causes cavities, but many of these bacteria can also cause problems to a person’s overall health.
Poor dental health is linked to the following chronic diseases or conditions:
Cardiovascular Disease
Your mouth has some 700 different kinds of bacteria that live on your teeth, tongue, and between your teeth and gums. If your mouth is healthy, it can fight off the bad bacteria that cause disease. But if you have gum disease, an infection, or cavities in your mouth, your ability to fight off those harmful germs is decreased.
Several studies show an association between cardiovascular disease and gum disease. The bacteria in your mouth can cause infection, inflammation and is related to clogged arteries, heart disease, and stroke.
An added cardiovascular illness linked to oral health is endocarditis. Endocarditis is an infection in your heart which is usually caused by bacteria in the bloodstream, which attaches to impaired areas of the heart. If your mouth’s defenses are down, these bacteria can enter the bloodstream through your mouth. In this situation, you need to be diligent about brushing and flossing your teeth and gums every day, and have regular dental checkups.
Cancer
Cancer and cancer treatments weaken the body’s immune system and you’re more likely to get a mouth infection, especially if you have unhealthy gums. Further, cancer treatments can also cause other side-effects that cause problems in your mouth:
- Sores in your mouth
- Dry mouth – the lack of saliva creates the right environment for additional cavities
- Swollen and sensitive gums
- Jaw pain
Diabetes
Diabetes can be managed with a controlled diet or medication. If left untreated, it can cause several problems, including degeneration of eyesight, kidney function, nerve damage and problems with blood vessels throughout your body.
Diabetes also has an impact on your mouth and teeth:
Dry mouth creates the environment for cavities due to the lack of saliva. To treat dry mouth:
- Drink lots of water
- Use sugar-free gum, sugar free candy, or mints to moisten your mouth
- Use a water flosser to remove plaque from the gum line, and rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash
- Inflamed gums bleed as blood vessels thicken.
- Cold sores and mouth sores take longer to heal.
- High glucose levels help germs grow, increasing the chance for an infection in your mouth.
Poor oral health increases your chances of getting diabetes since gum disease is an infection which causes blood sugar to rise. If you don’t treat gum disease, your blood sugar could rise which increases your risk of developing diabetes.
Oral Care is Important to Your Overall Health
You need to take good care of your mouth whether you have a chronic disease or not. Everyone should follow these oral health practices:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft bristled toothbrush for two minutes each time.
- Floss your teeth daily
- Have regular dental checkups every six months
- Limit sugary drinks and starchy foods
- Say no to tobacco
Make An Appointment With Dr. Evanson Today
If you have a chronic medical condition, contact our office online or call (720) 409-0008. Dr. Evanson treats patients of all ages with state-of-the-art dental technology and the insight to care for emerging oral and medical problems.
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