7 Poor Oral Health Hygiene Effects

How many times a day do you brush your teeth? Despite being very careful about your poor oral health effects on your dental hygiene, you may still have dangerous bacteria growing. Years ago, the idea of linking pregnancy or heart disease to dental issues would have sounded bizarre. Today, various medical studies help link serious health issues to poor oral health.

According to the American Dental Association reports, if your gum disease is as much as 40% serious, then you might be suffering from a chronic disease on top of it.

Who would have thought that the mouth could cause such serious problems to the body? A bacterium growing in the teeth makes the gums weak and prone to infections. The mouth is the gateway to the body. Hence, it is more prone and links to many chronic diseases you might be suffering from.

Here is a list of diseases that might be caused due to poor oral health effects that are bound to make you take better care of your teeth:

1. Diabetes

If you have some periodontal disease or have been experiencing a loss of teeth, then it is highly likely that you might be suffering from diabetes. A high blood glucose level provides an ideal condition for bacteria to thrive in the mouth and grow on gums. Fortunately, if you are able to control one, you can manage the other. So to an extent, the impact of it can be managed.

2. Infertility

Studies reveal that men with periodontal disease are 7 times more likely to experience erectile dysfunction than men who take care of their dental health. Research done by the European society revealed that women, who do not maintain good oral hygiene, take a longer time to conceive. If suffering from gum-related diseases, then it might take more than 7 months to conceive compared to peers who don’t suffer from anything.

Poor oral hygiene affects your mouth adversely. It causes bad breath, gum disease, decay, abscesses of a tooth, infections in the mouth and eventually tooth loss.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D. in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

3. Heart Disease

Gum and heart disease often go hand in hand. Individuals suffering from periodontal disease are twice as likely to suffer from a stroke or heart disease compared to a normal person due to the bacteria. These bacteria have the ability to clog the arteries, building enough pressure to cause a severe heart attack.  

4. Respiratory Problems

Gum disease may increase your risk of getting respiratory infections, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia. The periodontal bacteria can travel through the bloodstreams to the lungs and aggravate it, causing a lot of breathing trouble.

5. Osteoporosis

The common link between osteoporosis and periodontal disease is bone loss. Bone strength can easily be identified with an oral health check-up and that can help indicate if you are suffering from an early stage of osteoporosis. Treating Osteoporosis in such cases becomes crucial as it should be done before it can weaken the bones of the jaw of the person suffering from periodontal disease. Understanding the signs of this at an early stage is very helpful, as the patient can start to receive treatment before suffering a painful and potentially debilitating fracture.

According to CDC poor oral health is associated with other chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Oral disease also is associated with risk behaviors such as using tobacco and consuming sugary foods and beverages.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD(Pediatrics)

6. Obesity

Obesity increases an individual’s susceptibility by modulating the immune and inflammatory systems in a manner that predisposes to inflammatory tissue destruction and leaves an individual at greater risk of periodontitis. More bleeding on probing, deeper periodontal pockets and more bone loss were noticed in individuals with higher indicators of obesity. Thus, maintaining normal body weight and eating healthy food ensures less threat to the body along with focusing on the poor oral health effects on our body.  

Neglecting your teeth can cause gingivitis, the milder form of gum disease which makes gums red, swollen, and quick to bleed.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D. in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

7. Arthritis

Periodontitis has a common link with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) due to its common pathogenesis and clinical presentation. Patients with RA are eight times more likely to have the periodontal disease compared to control patients. Both conditions are characterized by chronic inflammation in the soft-tissue site adjacent to bone. Both the diseases together usually require lifetime disease management. In an effort to best maintain oral health, RA patients are encouraged to brush and floss on a regular basis and visit a dentist twice a year.

Well, now that it is clear why good oral hygiene is important, educate yourself and your family about these effects and spread awareness. Practice good oral hygiene by brushing after every meal with fluoride toothpaste and floss your mouth regularly. Doing so will save your teeth from poor oral health effects and life as well!

Disclaimer:  The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

2

1