25
May
Oral and Overall Health — Your Dentist Explains the Link
Everyone loves to see a bright, healthy smile. Strong teeth and disease-free gums help you enjoy your favorite foods, greet others with confidence, and look and feel your best. Conversely, if your smile is suffering, you might shy away from meeting new people, dread the thought of eating certain foods, and suffer the social stigma of bad breath. But did you know that oral health problems are also linked to overall health problems? Your dentist in Framingham talks more about this fascinating connection.
Dry Mouth
Sometimes, the cause behind bad breath is something as simple as a lack of adequate water intake. In other cases, though, it points to a bigger problem. It can come about because of high blood sugar, indicating that you might have diabetes. Dry mouth may also be linked to certain medications and lifestyle factors, such as smoking.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal (gum) disease has been named as an independent risk factor for many systemic health conditions, such as worsening diabetes, cardiovascular disease, preterm birth and low birth weights, and Alzheimer’s disease.
There are quite a few habits that can lead to gum disease, including smoking, poor oral hygiene, and more. There are less obvious factors that may contribute to gum problems as well. For example, research shows that getting less than six hours of sleep per night may worsen periodontal health; this may be because not getting enough rest weakens the body’s immune response.
Tooth Decay
If your dentist notices that you have an unusual amount of tooth decay, the cause might be your daily routine, but it could be something else. For example, the frequent vomiting that comes with certain conditions, such as pregnancy and some stomach problems, exposes your teeth to high amounts of acid. This acid can wear away at your enamel and lead to cavities.
Excessive Wear and Tear
A bad bite is a common cause of excessive wear and tear on the teeth. However, if you grind your teeth due to stress, this can also put tons of pressure on your pearly whites and lead to premature wear. If you grind your teeth while you’re sleep, you may not even be aware of the problem.
Your Dentist Helps Protect Your Overall Health
Clearly, there is a strong link between your oral health and your overall health. That is one reason why it is so vital for you to visit your family dentist in Framingham every six months. During a routine exam, your dentist may be able to spot problems that point to issues elsewhere in your body. They can also educate you about how your smile’s health may impact the rest of your systems. Regular dental visits are also important in managing the oral health concerns that come with diabetes, excess stress, pregnancy, and other conditions.
Taking care of your smile is vital to your overall health! We hope you do your best to protect your teeth and gums.
About Us
We have two talented dentists in our practice, both of whom highly value their patients’ oral and overall health. If it’s time for your next checkup, please contact us at (508) 665-2016.