Oral health problems are today no laughing matter. Because whoever you are, if you aren’t maintaining your oral health – know that it could affect more than just that fetching smile and charming grin. Way more.
Bad oral health can have a very negative effect on your body.
Don’t believe us?
Well, research shows that there is a close relationship between oral and overall health. Bad oral health is linked to a host of illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
University of North Carolina School of Dentistry found that people with gum disease were twice as likely as others to die from a heart attack and three times as likely to have a stroke.
Now you believe us. Read on. But before that, you might want to pick up that dropped jaw.
The mouth is a primary entryway into the body, the main door to the house; it can cause great damage, if we don’t take proper care. Teeth that ache, gums that bleed, and breath that smells bad are all indicators of poor oral health. Bacteria from the mouth can easily get into the bloodstream and cause infection and inflammation wherever it spreads.
But don’t you worry, we got your back. Or your oral health system, in this case. You’re welcome.
This World Oral Health Day, we are here to show you how your oral health affects your overall health, and how you can maintain a good oral health routine.
Heart Attack.
Because of poor oral health, gums are inflamed by bacteria causing periodontal disease, which gets into the bloodstream building plaque and hardening the arteries.
This hardening of the arteries is called atherosclerosis, and it leads to blood flow problems and heart blockages, and it increases the likelihood of having a heart attack.
Diabetes.
Periodontal disease or gum disease can make diabetes more difficult to control. Taking good care of your oral health is especially important for diabetics to prevent complications associated with their disease.
Cancer.
Severe gum disease increases your risk of cancer. Astonished? So were we. Research shows, people with a history of gum disease are 43% more likely to develop esophageal cancer and 52% more likely to develop stomach cancer compared with people whose gums are healthier.
Breathing issues.
Even the respiratory system suffers as a result of poor oral health. Gasp. Because bacteria in the mouth, no thanks to infected teeth and swollen gums, can be breathed into the lungs. This bacteria can then lead to respiratory infections, pneumonia, acute bronchitis, and even COPD.
Moral of the Oral story
Now you see why maintaining an oral health routine can change your life, right? Right.
Hence, it is important to practice good oral hygiene and to see your dentist regularly in order to avoid serious risks to the body’s overall health.
#beproudofyourmouth
Because oral health is key to overall health.
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