How Do Teeth Affect Our Brain & Other Organs?
The organs in our body are far from oral cavity, but they all get energy from the food that once passed through our teeth in oral cavity. The teeth breaks down the food so it becomes easy to digest. Hence the connection between our organs and oral cavity is strong yet unknown. This also mean that maintenance of good care of one reflects on health and well-being of other. Similarly poor oral hygiene with number of lost teeth has been sign of severe diseases such as cardiovascular severity.
How is the Mouth connected to all other organs?
Mouth is considered gateway to general health because mouth is responsible for our daily food intake. This way the mouth regulates the body nutrition every day. A painful teeth or bleeding gum affect the choice of food we eat and in turn, the overall nourishment. Moreover, oral cavity maintain a critical balance between oral bacteria and healthy tissue. Failure to maintain good health of oral tissues means bacterium finding a way to penetrate the blood stream and reach organs such as heart, lung, kidney or brain, thus causing grave internal infection. Current research also reveals an association between oral health and neurological degenerative conditions.
What diseases can be caused by an unhygienic oral routine?
Oral health has been recognized as an essential component of overall well-being, with increasing demand in older communities. Changes in oral health have an impact on systemic health. Tooth loss is closely associated with cardiovascular diseases mortality, and reductions in quality of life. Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease that is highly prevalent worldwide, is the oral health condition with the most prominent links to diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and chronic renal disease.
Poor oral health, including tooth loss, caries, and periodontal disease, may be an unrecognized risk factor. They contribute to the development of cognitive impairment through dietary changes, malnutrition, and a systemic inflammatory response. This causes increased risk of stroke and dementia. It is also a risk factor towards diabetes mellitus and plays a role in the development of endocarditis and recurrent pneumonia in elderly people.
Dementia: It is a form of acquired progressive loss of mental ability to process knowledge, learning and understanding of things. It is the main cause of disability, dependence, and mortality, especially in the aging. A 10-yearlong study has shown a significant relationship between dementia incidence and number of missing teeth. Majority of dementia patient suffer from periodontal pockets and gingival bleeding. Dementia has been more common in individuals with removable dentures
Alzheimer's disease: Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia that destroys memory, shrinks the brain, and affects the brain cells to die. It degenerates the functioning of mental health which leads to memory loss and confusion. During Alzheimer, loss of appetite may worsen which eventually gives rise to oral health problems. The bacterium, P. gingivalis, appears to migrate from the mouth to the brain of some individuals as they age and a significant proportion of subjects who go onto developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Cardiovascular disease: A potential association exists between atherosclerosis i.e. plaque deposition in blood vessels, and periodontal pathogens. There is a broad base of common genetic variants which increase both the risk of cardiovascular disease and the risk of periodontitis.
Endocarditis: Bacteremia, defined as the entry of bacteria into the blood stream, is one precondition for endocarditis. The vast majority of bacteremia do not cause endocarditis, even in patients at high risk. However, in high-risk patients, the more frequently and the more intensely bacteremia occurs, the likelihood of endocarditis will increase. Periodontal therapy can have a protective effect in people at risk of endocarditis
Diabetes: It has also been known that acute inflammation may lead to poor glycemic control. This is due to the fact that infections reduce the uptake of glucose into cells, and endotoxins and inflammatory mediators reduce the efficiency of insulin. Due to these pathogenic pathways, periodontitis has long been regarded as a risk factor for poor blood glucose control in diabetes patients.
How to maintain good oral hygiene?
As we all know that oral hygiene plays a crucial role in protecting the other organs of the body, we need to follow proper oral practices on daily basis. Adopt the following tips to keep your teeth charged and healthy.
Visit a dentist every month
Brush your teeth twice a day, especially at night
Floss your teeth once a month
Use a fluoride-free toothpaste
Limit sugar intake
Maintain healthy diet
Use mouthwash after every meal
Wash hands before eating anything
Clean your tongue
No intake of tobacco
Conclusion
Oral health is an integral part of your overall health. Several studies have proven a direct contact between poor oral health and disease related to other organs. By neglecting dental hygiene people are at greater risk of developing brain and heart diseases. To avoid the risk one must promote good dental practices and visit the nearest dentist that helps in empowering patients by improving oral health and wellness.
