Poor Dental Hygiene and Your Body | Balkan Health Writers

Posted on Feb 11, 2013 in Health

Surprisingly, poor dental hygiene has a great effect not only on oral health, but on the health of your body as well. The mouth is known as a gateway to your body, so it is no surprise that an infection in your mouth can also open up the body to risk for infections. Much of the risks associated with poor dental hygiene and the effects it has on the body begin with periodontal disease, which is also known as gum disease.

First, it is important to understand what periodontal disease is. Periodontal disease begins with a build up of bacteria on the teeth over time. This bacteria build up makes the gums more prone to infection, and eventually the gums will become inflamed and contribute to loss of bone structure throughout the mouth. Unless this is treated, the inflammation and bone loss will continue. This may cause problems throughout the rest of the body.

These problems include, but are not limited to, both diabetes and heart disease. Periodontal disease and the subsequent inflammation of the gums weakens the body and makes it difficult to control blood sugar. This inflammation hinders the ability of the body's utilization of insulin.

In turn high blood sugar levels offer optimum breeding grounds for bacteria growth.

This article covers how poor dental hygiene impacts the human body at all levels. Great for people seeking more information on dental health.
CC image courtesy of Army Medicine

While the connection between heart disease and periodontal disease is not completely understood, it is theorized that an inflammation of gum tissue also means that there is an inflammation of blood vessels. This means that there is less room for the blood to flow through to the heart, raising blood pressure and putting the body at an increased risk of heart attack. It is also more likely that any fatty plaque build up in the blood vessels could potentially break off and travel to the heart or brain, increasing the risk for stroke as well as heart attack.

Bone structure loss due to periodontal disease is not limited to just the mouth. It can also cause bone loss throughout the rest of the body, also known as osteoporosis. While highly debated, some studies have shown that women with osteoporosis are also more likely to be affected with periodontal disease.

Poor dental hygiene may have an effect not only on the body, but the mind as well. It is possible that the bacteria in the mouth could spread to the brain through cranial nerves. These nerves connect to the jaw and through the bloodstream, which may contribute to the same type of plaque associated with Alzheimer's disease, leading to dementia.

Pregnant women with periodontal disease are also putting their unborn children at risk. Infection or inflammation of any type is commonly known to contribute to premature birth, as well as low birth weights. This is because the infection interferes with the development of the fetus in the womb. Studies have shown that pregnant women who used a mouth rinse had decreased instances of premature delivery.

Poor dental hygiene does not effect only pregnant women, but also women trying to conceive. Periodontal disease contributes to increased time for conception, and is identified as the same type of modifiable risk factor as obesity when attempting to conceive.

Lastly, poor dental hygiene puts the body at risk for respiratory problems. The inhalation of bacteria puts the lungs at an increased risk for infection. For those who already have respiratory problems, this could lead to pneumonia, bronchitis, and emphysema. Oral bacteria can also lead to a lung disease called chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, or COPD. Those suffering from COPD already have weakened immune systems, making it difficult for any bacteria that may be inhaled from periodontal disease to be eliminated from the system.

About Kyle Sanders

Kyle Sanders is the content director for Clinic Vitamins, the industry leader in all natural vitamins and supplements.

Source: http://balkanwriters.com/poor-dental-hygiene-and-your-body/

monday night football monday night football SEC Championship Game 2012 kansas city chiefs Javon Belcher express kindle fire