8 Unexpected Ways Oral Hygiene Affects Your Health

Even as dental care and treatments become more advanced and pain-free, women and men in the United States still suffer from poor oral hygiene and its most obvious consequences. More than 92% of American adults ages 20-64 have cavities. Another 30% have tooth decay that they’ve never bothered to treat.

While good at-home habits such as brushing and flossing daily, eating crunchy fruits and vegetables, and limiting sugar are important, they do not suffice. You must visit your dentist at least twice a year for a thorough examination and professional dental cleaning. 

In addition to preserving your teeth and gums, good oral hygiene protects the rest of your body, too. At Goodman Dental Center in Queen Creek, Arizona, our expert dentists, Brian Goodman, DDS, and Tanner Goodman, DDS, can’t overemphasize the relationship between good oral hygiene and overall health. Here’s why.

Oral bacteria spread

Your mouth hosts millions of bacteria. When you practice good oral hygiene habits, most bacteria remain harmless. However, harmful bacteria grow unchecked if you neglect daily brushing and flossing. 

Too much oral bacteria causes inflammation in your gums, which could lead to periodontitis and even tooth loss. But they can also travel through your bloodstream and spread to other body parts. Inflammation contributes to a wide range of chronic health problems, including life-threatening diseases. 

1. Heart disease

The bacteria involved in periodontitis increase your risk of heart disease. These bacteria travel through your bloodstream, triggering inflammation inside the blood vessels. The inflammatory changes promote atherosclerosis, which is a dangerous narrowing of arteries

2. Diabetes

The link between oral health and diabetes goes two ways. Poor control of your blood sugar can increase your risk for gum disease. However, inflamed gums also worsen blood sugar control. 

3. Depression

Your oral health even affects your mood and emotional well-being. Inflammation caused by poor oral health contributes to the biological processes that promote a depressed mood. As the severity of gum disease increases, so does the worsening of mood problems, such as depression.

4. Stress 

Health conditions that increase the body’s stress response set off a cascade of reactions that lead to chronic, low-level inflammation. Bacteria involved in gum disease and tooth decay can trigger your body’s stress response, contributing to a rise in stress hormones and inflammation.

5. Erectile dysfunction

Guys: Poor oral hygiene already limits your success in the dating game, but if you do get lucky, you might not get to take advantage of your good fortune. There is a link between diseased gums and teeth and erectile dysfunction (ED). One study demonstrated that men with ED were nearly 80% more likely to have periodontitis than their age-matched peers who didn’t have ED. 

6. Cognitive health

If you want to stay sharp as you age, grab a toothbrush. Clinical data show that taking care of your oral hygiene may play a role in keeping your brain healthy, too, to reduce your risk of cognitive decline. 

The damage from periodontitis doesn’t stop at your mouth or gut. Your brain is vulnerable to the effects of low-level inflammation, too. The substances the body produces in chronic inflammation can damage brain cells. 

7. Immune health

The inflammation caused by oral bacteria, plaque buildup, and gum disease weakens the immune system. That makes it harder for your body to protect itself, which is particularly harmful if you have inflammatory or immune-related conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease. Your symptoms may exacerbate with poor oral health.

8. Gastrointestinal system

The “bad” bacteria from periodontitis suppress friendly bacteria in your gut, which throws off the delicate balance necessary for good gut health, leading to digestive issues and a leaky gut.

Don’t neglect your oral hygiene. Book an appointment over the phone or online with Goodman Dental Center today to preserve your oral and overall health with a professional dental cleaning.