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Whole Body Health And Your Teeth

Your mouth is the gateway to your body. It shows the mirror to your overall health. Your oral health offers
clues about your health as several issues in your body are reflected in your mouth while you are unaware
of them. In addition, the problems in your mouth may also affect the rest of your body. So to protect
yourself, it is crucial to be aware of the connection between your oral cavity and your body’s overall health.

Whole Body Health   And Your Teeth

The mouth-body connection

Our oral cavity is home to millions of bacteria, most of which are harmless. Our body’s natural defences,
i.e., our immune system, coupled with proper daily brushing and flossing, usually keep these bacteria
under control. However, in the absence of good oral hygiene maintenance, these bacteria may increase
exponentially to reach a level to cause oral infections like gum diseases or tooth decay. Other factors may
be responsible for this rise in bacterial levels and subsequent illness like our dietary patterns, certain
medications, conditions decreasing saliva flow, lowered immunity, etc. Our oral cavity is the entry point to
our respiratory and digestive systems. These bacteria threaten these systems.

How the health of your teeth can affect your body

Our mouth is one of the essential parts of our body. Any problem that affects your mouth can make it hard
to eat, drink, or even smile. Besides dental decay and gum diseases, other oral conditions like oral ulcers,
cold sores, oral thrush, burning mouth syndrome, or pre-cancerous lesions like leukoplakia may cause
considerable pain and suffering.

Certain conditions affect overall health, like space infections and cellulitis. When the pus from dental
infection spreads to the soft tissue spaces of your face, it is known as space infection, which can further
spread to deeper layers and progress to cellulitis. Cellulitis, if left unchecked, can turn into a life-threatening
condition as the patient encounters difficulty in breathing.

The bacteria from our oral cavity risk causing infections in other parts of our body when carried to other
systems via blood or different pathways.

The most commonly observed infection caused by oral bacteria is Infective Endocarditis. Bacteria infect
the inner lining of the heart chambers from another part of the body, such as the oral cavity. These germs
are typically carried from the mouth to the heart through blood. They get attached to some regions of the
heart and cause infection and subsequent inflammation.

This is mainly observed in people with pre-existing heart diseases. Few studies have also put forth the link
between oral bacteria and clogging of arteries which is the leading cause of stroke.

Several researchers have shown that gum diseases or periodontitis in pregnant women may lead to
premature birth and low birth weight of their babies.

Whole Body Health And Your Teeth

Diseases that can be diagnosed from the oral cavity

Various systemic diseases manifest their symptoms in the mouth. So a quick examination by your dentist
may reveal the presence of these diseases, which you might be otherwise unaware of. These include:
• Diabetes
• Anaemia
• Leukaemia
• Thyroid and parathyroid diseases
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Eating Disorders
• Kaposi’s Sarcoma
• Multiple myeloma
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• Sjögren syndrome
• Scleroderma, etc

Whole Body Health And Your Teeth is a crucial part of your long term health. Understand the connections across your body.

Dr Hafsa Alidrissi is a dentist and a certified expert with oral health and digital dentistry in Dubai and can advise you on best practices regarding looking after your mouth and teeth.

 

If you wish to purchase healthy products then please browse our shop HERE

 

Please contact her now to book a consultation. Contact details can be found HERE.

You can find out more information about caring for your teeth  HERE

More information can be found HERE .

Oral And Digestive Health

Oral And Digestive Health

The mouth is where physical and chemical digestive processes begin; therefore, it plays an integral part in
the digestive process. As a result, the state of your teeth and gums might affect your digestive health. It’s
also worth noting that gastrointestinal issues might impact your dental health.

Suppose you have very few good bacteria or excessively harmful ones. In that case, this imbalance sends an
inflammatory signal to your immune system, causing various symptoms to occur throughout the body –
including the mouth. Thus, we can monitor dental health by examining gut health.

Gut dysbiosis is a bacterial imbalance in the gut. Healthy people tend to have sufficient beneficial gut
bacteria to maintain a functioning and strong gut lining. This equilibrium supports a healthy immune
system.

oral and digestive health health pillar dubai

However, if dangerous bacteria overgrow and create inflammation and a leak in the gut lining, various
symptoms might develop. These can be:

Gingivitis

When a layer of bacteria forms on the teeth, it irritates the gums. Gingivitis can progress to periodontitis,
a more severe illness that can lead to tooth loss if left untreated.

Dental Decay

This issue arises when the stomach leaks, allowing undigested food and poisons to circulate throughout
the body easily. Your mouth is less capable of fending off the invaders that cause tooth decay as your
immune system weakens.

Conversely, dental decay can lead to digestive issues too. Chewing is dependent on healthy teeth and
gums. You may be unable to chew your food correctly if your teeth are decayed or missing or if gum
disease makes chewing uneasy. As a result, stomach issues may arise. Furthermore, germs are most likely
moving through your digestive tract with the food and saliva you swallow if you have gum disease. It’s also
possible that your digestive system will become imbalanced due to this.

 

Digestive disorders affect your teeth and gums.

Acids from your stomach can reach your mouth if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease or heartburn.
Acids can destroy tooth enamel if this happens. This may lead to erosion of teeth. Several erosive lesions
can be observed on the inner side of teeth due to prolonged exposure of the teeth’ surface to stomach
acid. In addition, the acids wear off the enamel of the teeth. This may lead to severe teeth sensitivity and,
in extreme cases, pain and teeth fracture.

Other Signs of Gastrointestinal Problems in the Mouth

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, frequently manifests
in the mouth. This is especially common among children. Among the warning signs are Mouth sores,
Infection, Bleeding gums, swollen gums, etc. Several medicines used to treat IBD might induce gingivitis,
dry mouth, or an irritated tongue.

While consulting your dentist, do not forget to mention if you have a gastrointestinal issue. Also, note any
medications you’re taking for these issues.

So Oral And Digestive Health is a key element in whole body health.

 

Health Pillar is a website for whole-body health.

If you would like to contact us, then please do. Contact details can be found HERE.

You can find out more information about oral and digestive health issues HERE

More information can be found HERE 

 

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