August 31, 2021

Oral-Systemic Link for Overall Health

“Oral-Systemic” Is The Connection Between Your Oral Health And Your Entire Health System. Poor Oral Health Has Been Linked Is To Conditions Such As Covid-19, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Stroke, Pneumonia And Alzheimer’s.  Specifically, High-Risk Oral Bacteria That Enters The Bloodstream Through The Gums From Periodontal Disease Can Adversely Impact Overall Health. Conversely, A Healthy Mouth Can Help Overall Health.

Periodontal (Gum) Disease Is An Inflammatory Disease Around The Roots Of Teeth Caused By Bacteria.  It Is Estimated That Around 70% Of Adults Have Some Degree Of Periodontal Disease. This High-Risk Bacteria Gets Into The Bloodstream And Can Be Inhaled Into The Airway.  The Results Of This Oral-Systemic Link Can Contribute To Susceptibility And Worsening Of Other Diseases Like Covid-19, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Alzheimer’s And Pneumonia.

The Covid-19 Link Shows A Relationship Between Periodontal Disease And Bad Covid-19 Outcomes. The Relationship Is Inflammation. Oral Inflammation Is Not Limited To The Mouth; It Activates Chronic Systemic Inflammation Which Challenges The Body’s Immune System. The Covid-19 Virus Enters Cells And Elicits An Immune Response Which Can Lead To A Cascade Of Inflammation Throughout The Body, Effecting Many Organs Which Can Lead To Death. The Risk Of Serious Complications From Covid-19 Is Significantly Higher In Patients With Moderate To Severe Periodontal Disease When Compared To Patients With No Periodontal Disease.

The Bacteria That Cause Periodontal Disease Can Also Be Inhaled Into The Airway Leading To Respiratory Disease.  Research In Nursing Home Patients Demonstrated That Regular Tooth And Gum Cleaning Lead To Fewer Cases Of Pneumonia And These Patients Were Less Likely To Die From The Infection.

The Latest Research Suggest That The Bacteria That Cause Periodontal Disease May Pay A Role In Alzheimer’s Disease And Dementia.  Periodontal Bacteria Have Been Found In High Levels In The Brains Of Alzheimer’s Patients. Bacteria In The Mouth That Cause Inflammation Can Also Be Found In Remote Areas Of The Body Including Crossing The Blood-Brain Barrier.  This Leads To The Formation Of Amyloid Plaque Around Nerve Cells Disrupting Brain Activity As Seen In Alzheimer’s Disease.

Patients With Diabetes Are More Susceptible To Periodontal Disease. Proper Periodontal Care Can Have Beneficial Effects On The Glycemic Control And Lessen Diabetic Complications.  Research Shows That People With Periodontal Disease Have More Difficulty Controlling Their Blood Sugar, And 95% Of Americans Who Have Diabetes Also Have Periodontal Disease.

People Who Have Periodontal Disease Are Nearly Twice As Likely To Suffer From Heart Disease Or Stroke. The Bacteria That Cause Periodontal Disease Get Into The Blood Stream Causing Blood Vessel Inflammation And Damage; Tiny Clots, Heart Attacks And Stoke May Follow.

Many Of The Risk Factors For Systemic Diseases Are Also The Risk Factors For Chronic Inflammatory Periodontal Disease.  Managing The Common Risk Factors That Affect Oral And Systemic Diseases Can Help Better Manage The Inflammatory Driven Systemic Conditions.  Behavior Management Including Cessation Of Smoking, Weight Control, Healthy Diet And Supplements, As Well As Proper Oral Hygiene And Regular Visits To The Dentist All Contribute To An Overall Healthier Body.

Dr. Robert A. Gallegos Is A Fellow In The Academy Of General Dentistry, Visiting Faculty Of Spear Education, A Member The American Academy Of Dental Sleep Medicine, The American Academy Of Cosmetic Dentistry, And The American And Virginia Dental Associations.  Dr. Gallegos Practices Dentistry In Middleburg, VA.  Www.MiddleburgSmiles.Com

Previous

no next post

back to home page
February is Children's Dental Health Month
February is Children's Dental Health Month
Dental Health with a Focus on Adults Over Age 60
Dental Health with a Focus on Adults Over Age 60
How Important Is Sleep and How Do I Know If I Get Good Sleep?
How Important Is Sleep and How Do I Know If I Get Good Sleep?
Cosmetic Dentistry Update on Crowns (Caps), Onlays and Inlays
Cosmetic Dentistry Update on Crowns (Caps), Onlays and Inlays
Airway Focused Dentistry
Airway Focused Dentistry
Halloween Candy Versus the Dentist
Halloween Candy Versus the Dentist
How Important is Your Regular Dental Hygiene Visit? Keeping Your Mouth Healthy Versus I Thought This Was Just a Buff and Shine Visit.
How Important is Your Regular Dental Hygiene Visit? Keeping Your Mouth Healthy Versus I Thought This Was Just a Buff and Shine Visit.
How Can Parents Recognize Breathing Disorders in Children?
How Can Parents Recognize Breathing Disorders in Children?
Health and Nutrition: What Should We Eat?
Health and Nutrition: What Should We Eat?
Pregnancy and Breathing
Pregnancy and Breathing
Do My Dental Fillings Need to be Replaced?
Do My Dental Fillings Need to be Replaced?
How Often Should I See My Dentist?
How Often Should I See My Dentist?
Healthcare from an Airway Perspective
Healthcare from an Airway Perspective
Preventative Dentistry - What can I do?
Preventative Dentistry - What can I do?
Dental Health with a Focus on Young Children and it is Halloween Candy Donation time again
Dental Health with a Focus on Young Children and it is Halloween Candy Donation time again
What You Should Know about Smoking and E-Cigarettes
What You Should Know about Smoking and E-Cigarettes
Who Should Wear Athletic Mouthguards?
Who Should Wear Athletic Mouthguards?
Children's Dental Health Month - Sleep Well for Health
Children's Dental Health Month - Sleep Well for Health
Tooth Replacement: What Are The Options?
Tooth Replacement: What Are The Options?
Understanding Upper Airway Resistance
Understanding Upper Airway Resistance
Bleeding Gums
Bleeding Gums
Comprehensive Dentistry
Comprehensive Dentistry
What is Sleep Hygiene and How Does it Impact My Health
What is Sleep Hygiene and How Does it Impact My Health
Dental Implants: What are They and are They the right choice?
Dental Implants: What are They and are They the right choice?
What are my Options for Whitening my Teeth?
What are my Options for Whitening my Teeth?
Answers to Five Commonly Asked Dental Questions
Answers to Five Commonly Asked Dental Questions
Dental Benefits, Use Them or Lose Them
Dental Benefits, Use Them or Lose Them
Some Toothpastes Can Harm Your Teeth
Some Toothpastes Can Harm Your Teeth
Dental Health Considerations of Tap Water and Bottled Water
Dental Health Considerations of Tap Water and Bottled Water
Seal out Tooth Decay for Children, Teens, and Adults
Seal out Tooth Decay for Children, Teens, and Adults
Children’s Dental Health Month, Baby Teeth are Important
Children’s Dental Health Month, Baby Teeth are Important
Should I Treat A Bite Discrepancy?
Should I Treat A Bite Discrepancy?
Should I Whiten My Teeth?
Should I Whiten My Teeth?
Smoking and Cancer
Smoking and Cancer
Orthodontics: An Attractive Smile and More
Orthodontics: An Attractive Smile and More
Oral-Systemic Link for Overall Health
Oral-Systemic Link for Overall Health
What are the Common Traits of a Beautiful Smile?
What are the Common Traits of a Beautiful Smile?
Dental Care Through the Decades of Life
Dental Care Through the Decades of Life
Dental Health Tips for Caregivers
Dental Health Tips for Caregivers
What do Misaligned Teeth, TMJ, Teeth Grinding, Sleep Apnea, and Snoring Have in Common?
What do Misaligned Teeth, TMJ, Teeth Grinding, Sleep Apnea, and Snoring Have in Common?