TEETH TIPS: There’s a connection between oral health, overall health

By Jay Wietecha DMD, MAGD

I recently was asked, “How does dentistry affect overall health?”
My answer: There can be many links between one’s overall health and how healthy their mouth is.

These range from obvious things like oral cancer to things you might not think of, such as periodontal risks during pregnancy. As it turns out, overall health and oral health are deeply intertwined.
An unhealthy mouth can negatively affect the rest of our bodies. It has been well documented that untreated gum disease puts you at risk for quite a few things including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, respiratory diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, certain cancers, kidney disease and dementia.
On the flip side, systemic medical conditions can also affect the health of our mouths. For instance, having diabetes makes wound healing more difficult and cardiovascular disease can sometimes create limitations in the amount of anesthetic you can safely have at dental appointments.
Some medications that patients routinely take to help treat or control certain medical conditions can cause dry mouth as a side effect, which increases your risk for developing cavities.
Lastly, people who are prescribed blood thinners can have bleeding concerns with routine dental work.
Therefore, because of the intricate relationship between our overall health and our oral health, it is extremely important that you inform your dental providers of any new or reoccurring medical issues as well as ensure that you are staying current with preventative dental care to help make sure that your mouth is as healthy as possible.

Jay Wietecha practices at Smile Solutions, in Waterville