The surprising relationship between oral health and general health

Today I wanted to talk about the relationship between oral health and general health. It may surprise you to know that people who take care of their teeth have better overall health. Conversley, people with poor dental health also tend to have poor general health.

Although you may be loathe to schedule your next dental check up, the truth is that regular dental visits help people avoid chronic diseases that affect oral health as well as and general health. In a nutshell, taking care of your teeth makes you feel healthier and happier. This is precisely why I always prioritise a visit to my dentist in London twice yearly.

We will also reveal a brilliant hack for taking care of your dental health and therefore improving the associations with general health by chewing sugar free gum down below.

The relationship between oral health and general health

The role of bacteria in your mouth

The harmful bacteria in your mouth cause tooth decay and gum disease and of course taking care of your teeth regularly also helps you avoid gum disease. Ultimately gum disease can lead to tooth loss which is extremely painful to deal with, but that isn’t all. Yes bad bacteria in your mouth may cause bad breath and cavities, but it has also be linked with Alzheimer’s, UTI, acne and most importatly – heart disease.

Oral health and heart disease

According to this article from the Mayo Clinic:

• Gum disease (periodontitis) is associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease.
• Poor dental health increases the risk of a bacterial infection in the blood stream, which can affect the heart valves. Oral health may be particularly important if you have artificial heart valves.
• Tooth loss patterns are connected to coronary artery disease.
• There is a strong connection between diabetes and cardiovascular disease and evidence that people with diabetes benefit from periodontal treatment.

Oral health and Alzheimers

Meanwhile, a team of researchers from Tufts University has found a correlation between gum disease through the bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) and Alzheimer’s disease via a mouse study. According to this research highlight taken from the National Institute on Aging, “bacteria and the inflammatory molecules they make can travel from infections in the mouth through the bloodstream to the brain. Previous lab studies have suggested that this is one mechanism influencing the cascade of events that leads to dementia, but large studies with people have not been conducted to confirm this relationship”.

Oral health, UTI and other infections

It is only common sense, but of course everything that comes in via your mouth finds its way to other parts of your boody, and that is also the case of bacteria which causes tooth decay in the mouth which can cause infections in other parts of the body. The most common of these are UTI, bladder and kidney. There are some cases when infections can become serious, even fatal. For example, severe decay has the ability to result in sepsis, which can become life threatening.

Oral health and obesity

A 2020 review in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care suggests that gum disease is prevalent in obese populations and demonstrates “an increasing trend and a correlation with numerous comorbidities.” The review follows a decade of research linking periodontal disease with excessive body weight. Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer.

Oral health and acne

Some studies show that poor oral health and bad bacteria found present in infected gums or teeth can even lead to acne. This is because such infections increase the quantity of propionibacterium, the bacteria most often found in spots.

Bad gum health and other diseases

Yes there’s more! According to this Harvard Health article studies have found poor oral health linked to rheumatoid arthritis and even pancreatic cancer. Other studies have even shown a link between poor oral health and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Whilst much of these findings are still in the preliminary phase and require further research, they do at the very least underline the importance of oral health to our health and happiness. 

What can you do?

Have regular dentist check ups

Having regular dental checkups also identify any problematic gum areas or teeth which may need special attention and treatment. A dental visit should be scheduled regular for every member of the family. It provides the opportunity to remove tartar build up and plaque in a safe environment and give them a jolly good clean.

This all helps to remove excess plaque that can cause bad breath as well as gingivitis (redness and inflammation around your gums). Regular checkups reveal and treat problems like abscesses, damaged teeth, and other serious oral health problems before they become serious health issues. Meanwhile brushing your teeth twice a day doesn’t mean you’re removing all plaque and grime. A dental cleaning can be beneficial when it comes to accessing hard-to-reach areas.

Maintain good oral health at home

To maintain good oral health without effort or cost, you only need a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash and a good brushing technique. In essence, daily oral care at home through effective brushing, flossing and rinsing, removes excess plaque from your teeth easily; ensuring healthy teeth; a towel cleans your teeth after eating; and water makes sure bacteria dying from the spray stay dead.

Chewing sugar free gum

We all know that sugar free gum is a great way of freshening up your breath, but did you know that about the benefits of sugar free gum for oral health and therefore the associated general health benefits extend way beyond?

Chewing sugar free gum works to increase salive production in your mouth, helping to flush out food particular that could lead to cavities or gum decease as this summary by BDJ team highlights. This is backed up by a paper by the Journal of Irish Dental Association which states that chewing sugar-free chewing gum promotes a strong flow of stimulated saliva, which helps to provide a number of dental benefits:

• First, the higher flow rate promotes more rapid oral clearance of sugars;
• Second, the high pH and buffering capacity of the stimulated saliva help to neutralise plaque pH after a sugar challenge;
• Lastly, studies have shown enhanced remineralisation of early caries-like lesions and ultimately prospective clinical trials have shown reduced caries incidence in children chewing sugar-free gum.

For more information about sugar free gum, and how chewing it after drinking and eating can help to keep your dental health (and by association, general health also) see this sugar free gum FAQ on the Oral Health Foudation’s Page.

Summing up

The evidence is clear: the relationship between oral health and general health is compelling. Taking care of your teeth makes you healthier. People with poor dental health also tend to have poor general health. Regular dental checkups and taking your dental health into your own hands through good daily oral health and keeping a packet of sugar free gum handy for after meals doesn’t take a lot but could have an important impact on both your dental and overall general health.

Are you surprised to find out about the relationship between oral health and general health? Let us know in a comment below.

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