DENTAL WELLNESS OF BEND

4 Ways

Oral Health affects Whole Body Wellness

As a dentist, I treat people, not teeth. Oral health is

not an isolated system. The mouth is a window to our bodies. Often one of the first places we see evidence of bacterial imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, viral or fungal infections is in our mouths. The effects of imbalances or infections are not limited to the oral cavity.

For some conditions, we can identify areas of concern before other symptoms are visible throughout our body. Regular dental care is an essential aspect of preventive medicine for our whole body. Here's some ways oral health affects our systemic health.

1Immunity Our oral cavity is the first line of defense for our immune systems. There are defense proteins present in saliva that play a synergistic effect in our innate and acquired immune responses. These defense proteins form an efficient molecular defense network to help our immune systems function properly.

2Alzheimer's Risk Chronic inflammation can damage the brain over time. Having untreated gum disease for more than ten years gives you a 70% higher risk for developing Alzheimers.

3Cancer Risk Inflammation from unhealthy oral bacteria invading the rest of your body increases your risk of developing several types of cancer. Increased rates of breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colon cancer have been identified in patients with periodontal disease.

4Diabetes Management Periodontal disease makes managing diabetes and blood sugars more complicated, untreated diabetes makes you more susceptible to periodontal disease. For patients with risk factors for diabetes, it’s important to consider proper periodontal therapy as part of your treatment for management and prevention of diabetes.

It’s impossible to separate the mouth from the rest of our system. From a patient’s perspective, it can be empowering and give comfort to know that one's oral condition is not adversely affecting systemic health in any way. I look forward to being your partner on the path to wellness.