Issue 50.11
The U.S. Surgeon General has said, “You’re not healthy without good oral health.” Bad oral health can manifest itself as infections of the lips, cheeks, teeth, gums or the bone around the teeth and are caused by microorganisms. Medical research has shown that these microorganisms pass into the blood stream and are transmitted throughout the body and can manifest themselves far from the mouth causing or increasing the severity of serious life threatening health problems such as heart disease, heart infections, pneumonia, and stroke. Even if a serious health problem is not manifest, a chronic infection such as cavities or gum disease, that leaches into the blood stream is a drag on the whole body and can have a marked effect on an individual’s energy level.
The U.S. Surgeon General has also said, “The mouth is the gateway to the body for good or for ill.” Many general health problems can manifest themselves first in the mouth. The Center for Disease control reported 25,000 cases of oral cancer last year. This statistic underscores the importance of visiting the dentist because early signs are not painful and can easily go unnoticed until it is too late. Dentists and patients should pay special attention to the high-risk areas—under the tongue and the sides of the tongue for red/white patches or sores that last more than 10 days. Alcohol and tobacco use exponentially increase the risk for oral cancer.
There are quite a few general health problems that can make maintaining a healthy mouth more difficult. For example, if diabetes is not controlled, mouth infections can become more severe. Also, sleep apnea and mouth breathing can cause the mouth to become excessively dry – an environment in which destructive microorganisms thrive. Sometimes overlooked are conditions that cause us to be less effective in our brushing and flossing—arthritis and other conditions that affect our independence or dexterity in holding a toothbrush.
In the past some of us may have thought oral health as being isolated from the rest of our body, but now it is clear that there are very serious links between our oral health and overall health.
Rodney L Andrus, DDS, MS Prosthodontist ,is Founder of St George Center For SPECIALIZED DENTISTRY Expert Solutions For Challenging Dental Problems (435) 674-3100.