The mouth is the doorway to the rest of your body – and a window to your overall health.
We tend to think of our teeth cosmetically or functionally and are painfully reminded of them when we have a problem. But we rarely connect our teeth with long term health and wellness. However, just like skin or bones can be indicators of our overall health, so can our teeth and gums.
Research continues to reveal how dental health influences other health issues. While there are still many studies to be done to prove direct correlation of poor dental hygiene to other significant health issues, the fact is if you are not practicing a healthy lifestyle in general, you are adding risk factors that increase the probability of disease from tooth to toe.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), “Oral conditions are frequently considered separate from other chronic conditions, but these are inter-related. Poor oral health is associated with other chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Oral disease also is associated with risk behaviors such as using tobacco and consuming sugary foods and beverages”.
According to the World Health Organization, “Most oral diseases share common risk factors with chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, cancers, diabetes, and respiratory diseases. These risk factors include unhealthy diets, particularly those high in added sugar, as well as tobacco and alcohol use”.
Noting a pattern here? Whether you Google “oral health and overall health” or talk to your dentist or primary physician about the connections between the health of your teeth and gums and the rest of your body, you will find that what you put into your mouth on a daily basis (whether it’s soda, junk food or a vape) affects every single aspect of your health, including your dental health.
This is echoed in the 2023 Policies and Recommendations on Diet and Nutrition adopted by the American Dental Association House of Delegates:
“Resolved, that the American Dental Association acknowledges that oral health depends on proper diet and nutrition, and it is beneficial for consumers to avoid a steady diet of ultra-processed foods – defined as industrial creations reformulated with little if any whole foods, often additives and containing large amounts of added sugar and salt – especially those containing added sugars and low pH-level acids to help maintain optimal oral health, and be it further resolved, that the ADA encourages the dental professional community to…empower their patients to adopt a healthy dietary pattern of consuming a balanced diet with little to no ultra-processed foods containing added sugar.”
But First, Brush Your Teeth!
We understand that diets and lifestyles can affect our entire well-being. But it is good to be reminded that the simple act of brushing your teeth can also assist in keeping you healthy.
The mouth is full of bacteria. Brushing your teeth, staying hydrated, and flossing can help you keep this “doorway to your body” in its best shape and can reduce the possibility of getting illnesses like the flu and common cold. Just as you replace the welcome mat on your porch and sanitize your doorknobs, keeping your mouth as free of germs as possible is elemental to good health.
A compelling study was published this year about the relationship between pneumonia and teeth brushing that proves this fact.
A Harvard-led research study published online in 2023 published by the Journal of American Medical Association “suggests seriously ill hospitalized patients are far less likely to develop hospital-acquired pneumonia if their teeth are brushed twice daily. They also need ventilators for less time, can leave the intensive care unit (ICU) more quickly and are less likely to die in the ICU than patients without a similar toothbrushing regimen.”
Study participants who received twice-daily toothbrushing were 33% less likely to develop hospital-acquired pneumonia. Overall, the study participants were 19% less likely to die in the ICU, and able to graduate from intensive care faster, with the twice-daily oral regimen.
While this study was obviously conducted with people with serious illnesses, it proves that brushing teeth regularly can rid your mouth, and therefore the rest of your body, of germs that would otherwise lead to other illnesses or inhibit recovery.
Dental Health and Pregnancy
As if you weren’t already convinced that brushing your teeth matters, if you are a pregnant woman, it’s twice as true. According to healthychildren.org, “A mom’s oral health is connected to the health of her unborn baby–and it can all be traced to the bacteria in her mouth. Expectant mothers who brush their teeth thoroughly can reduce the risk of suffering dangerous complications in pregnancy and take a step towards reducing risk of future dental infection in their newborn baby.”
When a pregnant woman has excessive bacteria growth in her mouth, it can enter the bloodstream through her gums and travel to the uterus—triggering the production of chemicals called prostaglandins—that are suspected to induce premature labor.
According to Dr. Margaret “Garet” Patterson of Oak Family Dental, “Pregnancy gingivitis (gum disease) is caused by the normal hormonal change that occurs during pregnancy and typically resolves after the baby is born. During pregnancy it is very important to continue your routine dental visits. A healthy mouth is key to a healthy body and baby!”
Diabetes and Dental Health
Indeed, regular dental checkups are important for all of us, but especially important for those whose bodies need extra attention of any kind.
A 2020 study in the journal Diabetes Care estimated that people with diabetes who had periodontitis who received gum care could reduce complications such as kidney, nerve, and eye damage by nearly 20%.
According to The American Diabetes Association, “Bacteria in a person with diabetes is no different than people without doesn’t have diabetes. The difference is in the nature and intensity of the body’s inflammatory response to the bacteria. If you have diabetes – especially if you’re not meeting your targets – you will have more of an inflammatory response, which could result in a loss of supporting tissue for your teeth.
There are some oral conditions that are more common in people with diabetes, such as dry mouth. It may be a result of aging or medications, but it could also be a complication of diabetes. Whatever the cause, the lack of saliva from dry mouth means food debris, sugar, acid, and bacteria don’t get washed away as easily.
There is good news, though: If you manage your diabetes and your oral health by getting regular checkups with a dentist or periodontist, you will reduce your risk.”
Cardiac and Dental Health
Inflammation is also the connection between oral health and cardiovascular health. While oral problems may not directly cause cardiac ones, they can be related to heart issues. The body’s immune response to inflammation creates vascular damage throughout the body, including the heart and brain.
“The bacteria found in the mouth are very inflammatory and can get into blood stream via your gums. Bacteria settles in the small vessels of the heart and can cause inflammation (swelling) of the tissue which begins the plaque buildup and eventually leads to blockages. Maintaining good oral health at home and frequent visits can keep these bacteria in check and problems to a minimum,” explained Dr. Damon DiMarco of DiMarco Dental.
According to a 2021 article from Harvard Medical School, “There may be no direct connection between gum disease and cardiovascular disease; the reason they may occur together is that there is a third factor (such as smoking) that’s a risk factor for both conditions. Other potential ‘confounders’ include poor access to healthcare and lack of exercise – perhaps people without health insurance or who don’t take good care of their overall health are more likely to have poor oral health and heart disease.”
An article published in 2022 in The Journal of the American Dental Association, found that heart attack patients who received no dental care over the prior year stayed in the hospital longer than similar patients who did.
“Overall health encompasses dental health. Although there isn’t a scientifically proven direct link between periodontal disease and heart disease, we can observe parallels between inadequate oral hygiene and overall poor health and wellness. While pinpointing a precise cause and effect is challenging, the bottom line is that adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes oral health practices reduces risks for all diseases,” according to Dr. Hunter Charvet of Charvet Dental Center.
Flossing Is Your Friend
There is plenty of ongoing research underway about the relationship between diseases of the body and oral health that someday may “pinpoint” certain disease origins. There are even studies currently being conducted about oral hygiene as it relates to dementia and Alzheimer’s. Ultimately, these studies should encourage the dental and medical communities to pro-actively collaborate and approach patient care more holistically.
But there is no need to wait for more studies to get your teeth and gums healthy.
In between dentist visits, personal daily maintenance of your own mouth matters. “Home health care is very important. Most people seek ways around flossing, but you must floss–that is simply the best way to remove food particles between the teeth and that reduces inflammation,” emphasizes Dr. Bonnie Murphy with Metairie Dental Centre.
“It’s all about inflammation”, she continues. “When the gums are sick or you have cavities, you see inflammation. Brushing and flossing daily reduces both.”
So, before you become overwhelmed by all the dire possibilities that might come from lack of oral health, take a deep breath, and remember that health and wellness can start with just a toothbrush, floss, mouth rinse and water. These basic daily routines will keep you at lower risk for a host of consequences that scientists are still uncovering.
