The Link Between Organs and Oral Health from La Dentaire's dental clinic

Just like a giant jigsaw, every piece or part of your body fits together perfectly. Your oral health is a big part of the puzzle as what you do for your dental hygiene reflects directly on some internal organs such as BRAIN, LUNGS, HEART, KIDNEYS and PANCREAS .

La Dentaire is here to look after your smile, but there’s more to our services. We pride ourselves on being healthcare educators too. That means we stay on top of all the current trends that can affect your body and mouth.

BRAIN

Oral diseases are associated with stroke. Harmful bacteria in your mouth can make you more susceptible to developing blood clots, this increasing the chance of a stroke.

Recent studies have shown oral health directly affects the brain. As periodontal disease is caused by bacteria, individuals with gum disease have an increased risk of difficulty with their basic cognitive functions.

When left untreated, gum disease can interfere with a person’s memory and his ability to learn. Simple tasks such as memorizing lists and math skills can be extremely difficult.

LUNGS

Plaque and tartar is loaded with bad bacteria that will reach your lungs. If you have periodontal disease with pockets between your gums and teeth, you are setting yourself up for a respiratory ailment. Combine bad bacteria to your bad habits and the environment, and you could be setting yourself up for COPD. Bad bacteria can also permanently damage lung tissue resulting in a higher chance of respiratory infection.

Once dental plaque is established in the mouth, it can spread to the lungs and cause pneumonia and bronchitis. Maintaining good oral health can decrease the incidence conditions. And those with gum diseases are twice as likely to of respiratory infections.

HEART

High levels of inflammation associated with periodontal disease contribute to heart conditions. And those with gum diseases are likely to have a heart attack.The spread of bacteria affects both your mouth and heart. The highway that can transport these harmful organisms from your gums to the lining of your heart is your blood stream. In a worst-case scenario, bacteria from your mouth attaches itself to already damaged parts of that organ.

KIDNEYS

The mouth is a gateway to bacteria. Poor oral health causes infections to progress faster, increasing the kidneys workload. Patients that suffer with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) are more at risk from poor oral health because of the systemic effects of these conditions like inflammation, infections, protein-energy wasting, and hardening and narrowing of the arteries.

PANCREAS

When you're a diabetic your pancreas doesn't make enough insulin. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to gingivitis and other oral manifestations this is because uncontrolled diabetes weakens white blood cells, which are the body’s main defense against bacterial infections that can occur in the mouth. Besides weakening white blood cells, another complication of diabetes is that it causes blood vessels to thicken. This slows the flow of nutrients to and waste products from body tissues, including the mouth. When this combination of events, the body loses its ability to fight infections. Since periodontal disease is a bacterial infection, people with uncontrolled diabetes might experience more frequent and more severe gum disease.

GOOD ORAL HYGIENE IS KEY

The best way to prevent harmful bacteria overgrowth in the mouth is to practice good oral hygiene. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth daily with floss, flossers, or interdental brushes, and keep dental checkups with your dentist and dental hygienist. Your dental hygienist may also recommend using an antiseptic mouthrinse as well.

This information may seem concerning. But the good news is that there are ways to prevent gum disease, options we can help you with to keep your smile and body healthy. We’re the La Dentaire team that cares about your dental and overall health.

Why not take a few minutes to meet our team?

Everyone here at La Dentaire are dedicated professionals who have your best interest in mind.