Whole Body Connection to the Mouth

Every year in Dental Health Week dentists work together with the Australian Dental Association (ADA) to educate patients on critical health information. This year, the focus is on highlighting the connection between whole body health and the mouth. In previous articles, we’ve discussed the links between oral health and diet, diabetes, pregnancy, and physical health. There is also a connection between oral health and heart disease, Alzheimer’s, lung conditions and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Research is showing that bacteria from the mouth, can travel to other sites within the body, with inflammation in the mouth also increasing inflammation throughout a patient’s body. Here is a short summary of the connection between oral health and these additional health conditions.

Heart Disease: Bacteria from the mouth can impact cardiovascular health by transporting bacteria through the bloodstream potentially causing inflammation in the heart.

Alzheimers Research has shown that periodontal pathogens have been found in the brain, triggering an inflammatory response that may contribute to a neurodegenerative process.

Lung Conditions: Oral bacteria can be aspirated into the respiratory tract, causing or exacerbating lung infections and conditions.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): An imbalance of bacterial composition within the gut, partly due to bacteria transmission from the mouth, can contribute to gut inflammation and the development or exacerbation of the symptoms of IBD.

The ADA found that ‘65% of Australians identified that they did not know there was a link between their mouth and their body, while one in five Australians are still only brushing once a day, and 75% identified that they rarely or never floss’. These findings are not surprising, with the substantial increase in periodontitis incidence and dental cavities, both of which arise from an excess of bacteria in the mouth.

Unfortunately, the link between oral health and general health is underappreciated. It is especially imperative in our younger generations, as big oral health problems as a child or teen means this opens the door to greater risk of all kinds of health problems into adult life. Prevention, as always is the best possible care for children’s and adults’ teeth. The importance of the six-monthly routine examination and clean is often underrated, and too often forgotten or pushed back. This gives your dentist an opportunity to help you stay on top of your oral hygiene and work with you to prevent small problems developing into larger ones. Having a good relationship with your dentist can help you to take care of your teeth and your wellbeing overall. Overdue for your check up or needing to find a dentist you can partner with? Call our friendly team on 3348 6661 or visit our website www.dentaloncambridge.com to book an appointment.

ADA News Bulletin, August 2023, https://ada.org.au/dental-health-week-the-connection-between-oral-and-general-health