Sophie Okolo, MPH

The topic of health is multifarious, and when we spend a lot of time trying to ascertain the direct cause of something, there are clear oversights every single one of us falls foul of. Oral health is one of those components that are the root cause of so much. Your mouth can tell you a lot about the health of your body, but in what ways can it do this? 

Conditions Linked to Oral Health

Poor oral health may contribute to specific diseases and conditions. While we may know that a history of gum disease can contribute to something like diabetes, oral health can stem beyond more than just a dental appointment. The lack of oral health can contribute to endocarditis, which occurs when bacteria from other parts of your body spread through the bloodstream. Bacteria in your mouth can also be pulled into your lungs, resulting in respiratory diseases like pneumonia. Additionally, there have been links between periodontitis and low birth weight or premature birth. 

How Oral Diseases Can Be Chronic Diseases

Many chronic diseases can be prevented with healthy habits and lifestyle. In terms of oral health, tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer are all chronic conditions. In most of these cases, they can be prevented with age-old common healthy habits, such as brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste, eating healthy food, and the right prevention. 

The Mouth Is the Gateway to the Body

In terms of our oral health, we can glean a lot from the condition of our mouth. Bacteria that build up on our teeth can make our gums prone to a range of infections. Because the immune system attacks these infections, this causes inflammation in the gums. Over time, inflammation will eat away at the gums and eventually the bone structure that holds teeth in place, resulting in periodontitis, also known as gum disease. 

The Link Between Our General Health and Oral Health

Oral health can be linked with diabetes, as well as heart disease and osteoporosis, and with each of these, it’s important to recognize the impact of insufficient oral health. There are also other aspects of our oral health that can contribute to conditions in other parts of the body. For example, gum disease could have an impact on rheumatoid arthritis. As treating periodontal disease has been shown to reduce the pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis, this is another reason to look after our oral health. As periodontal disease could result in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, possibly by an increase in lung bacteria, this is where sufficient oral health will also be beneficial. 

The Body and the Mouth Are Not Separate

One of the biggest misconceptions we all make in terms of our general health is thinking that it is localized. As Chinese medicine has shown, every part of the body is connected. Whether you are a follower of Chinese medicine or not, the fact is that your mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body, and while the mouth can affect the body, the opposite can also occur. This is reason enough to ensure that, as people age, they promptly prioritize their oral health.