How Good Oral Health Boosts Mouth-Body Connection

Self-Esteem and Confidence

Believe it or not, when you have a good looking set of teeth and pleasant breath; it will positively affect your confidence and self-image. Good self-esteem helps fight depression, deal with stress, and makes you happier overall.

A Lower Risk of Heart Disease

Because chronic gum inflammation is associated with the development of cardiovascular problems, researchers are saying there is a direct cause-and-effect. Again, these findings go to show how good oral health equals good overall health.

A Reduction of Infection and Inflammation in Your Body

Yes, we get infection and inflammation in our body via our teeth. If we have gum disease or decay, the bacteria enter into the bloodstream and then the blood takes that bacterial all over the body. By eating well, brushing and flossing, and seeing the dentist regularly, you can combat this problem and improve your general health status. Once study from the Journal of Periodontology found that there is a direct link between periodontal disease and pulmonary conditions, such as pneumonia and bronchitis.

A Well-Preserved Memory

A recent report in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry found that adult with gum disease have worse memory and cognitive skills than those with healthier gums and mouths. A 2007 study published by the Journal of American Dental Association found a relationship between those who lost teeth before the age of 35 and an increased risk for dementia.

The Fertility Connection

This may sound strange, but the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology discovered that gingivitis (swollen, bleeding gums) and other periodontal disease causes women to have difficulty becoming pregnant.

Prevention of Diabetes

More data has been uncovered through animal experiments that suggest having good oral health if you are prediabetic will slow or prevent the progression of the disease. If you have diabetes, keeping your blood sugar stable is a battle. If you have gum or mouth infections, this will result in elevation of your sugar reading. Reducing gingivitis, tooth decay, and periodontal disease reduces your risk of infection and helps control blood sugar in diabetics.

Better for Baby

If you are pregnant, Science Daily reports that bacteria from your mouth can pass on to your unborn child that is in the womb. It might result in a low-birth weight baby, premature onset of contractions and premature delivery, or infection for the baby. The Society for General Microbiology tested 57 newborn babies from mothers with poor dental hygiene and found 46 different species of bacteria in the samples.

Cancer Prevention

Some forms of cancer become aggravated when gum inflammations result in body inflammations. Not to mention that oral cancer and pancreatic cancer are more likely to develop among those persons with bad oral hygiene. He warns us that prevention is the best way to ward off this process.