Oral Health Mirrors Overall Health
The importance of oral health
Oral health means more than just an attractive smile. Poor oral
health and untreated oral diseases and conditions can have a significant
impact on quality of life. And in many cases, the condition of
the mouth mirrors the condition of the body as a whole. Recent
reports indicate a relationship may exist between periodontal
(gum) disease and stroke, heart disease, and pre-term low-birth–weight
babies. Likewise, more than 90 percent of all systemic diseases
have oral manifestations, meaning your dentist may be the first
health care provider to diagnose a health problem.
What problems can poor oral health cause?
According to the recently released Surgeon General’s report
on oral health in America, a large percentage of the population
suffers from a reduced quality of life due to oral and facial
pain. This pain is largely due to infections of the gums that
support the teeth and can lead to tooth loss. More than 75 percent
of the population is affected by some type of periodontal disease
or gingivitis.
Recent reports show that infections in the mouth may affect major
organs. One example is bacterial endocarditis, a condition in
which the lining of the heart and heart valves become inflamed.
Poor mouth care may also contribute to oral cancer, which now
takes more lives annually than cervical or skin cancer.
In addition, poor oral health affects the digestive process, which
begins with physical and chemical activities in the mouth. Problems
here can lead to intestinal failure, Irritable Bowel Syndrome
and other problems.
What symptoms from other diseases show up in the mouth?
Mouth tissues reflect symptoms of other problems. In addition,
many diseases can be diagnosed in their early stages through an
oral examination. These diseases may be characterized by swollen
gums, mouth ulcers, drymouth and/or excessive gum problems. Some
of these diseases include diabetes, leukemia, cancer, heart disease
and kidney disease.
What can I do?
Seeing a dentist every six months can help identify diseases in
their earliest stages. It also is important to provide your dentist
with a complete medical/dental history and to inform him or her
of any recent problems, even if they seem unrelated to your mouth.
What can my dentist do?
A regular exam allows your dentist to keep your mouth in tip-top
shape and watch for developments that may point to problems elsewhere
in your body. A dental exam also picks up on poor nutrition and
hygiene, growth and development problems and improper jaw alignment.
According to a recent survey, 90 percent of dentists said they
counsel patients on home care for special oral health care needs
resulting from chemotherapy or head and neck radiation therapy.
Eighty-seven percent of dentists surveyed responded that they
counsel patients on tobacco use, more than half provide direct
counseling to patients. Thirty-eight percent of respondents also
provide literature on the dangers of tobacco and information on
tobacco cessation programs to patients, 17 percent refer patients
to their primary care physician, and 14 percent directly refer
patients to cessation services.