Serving patients of Erwin, Jonesborough, and Greeneville TN
Have you ever heard of the mouth-body connection? Medical research continues to add evidence that indicates that the health of the gums, teeth, and mouth can serve as a barometer to the overall health of an individual. Oral health may have a direct impact on the health of your heart, your brain, your metabolism, and even your sex life. Today on the blog, your family dentist in Greeneville takes a deeper look at the connection between your oral health and overall health.
Why is oral health so important?
Bacteria in your mouth, if allowed to accumulate and thrive, can cause repercussions throughout the body. They leave infected teeth or gum tissue and enter the bloodstream, where the bacteria may spread throughout the body, generating inflammation—a major driving force behind almost any type of chronic disease. The consequences of this spread of bacteria actually could stop your heart. Research conducted at Harvard has found that patients with gum disease were up to two times as likely to develop cardiac problems.
Heart disease is not the only potential risk associated with poor oral health. Patients with gum disease face a higher likelihood of developing diabetes. In these situations, the inflammation caused by the spread of bacteria from the mouth can make it more difficult for your body to flush out sugar from the blood supply, thus increasing your glucose levels. Diabetes and gum disease feed off one another; each accelerates inflammation, leading to another increase in blood sugar levels, and so on.
Erectile dysfunction is another long-term consequence of poor oral health. The vessels of the sexual organs are very responsive to changes in blood flow. There may be a significant association, in fact, between periodontal disease and ED.
The brain can be impacted as well. An extensive research study that was completed in 2020 determined a link between Alzheimer’s and gum disease.
Why do so many people neglect their dental health?
The reasons vary. Some people avoid going to the dentist because receiving dental care makes them highly anxious or extremely fearful. Others lack dental insurance because their employee coverage at work makes dental insurance too expensive, or does not offer it at all. Plus, many important dental procedures such as preventive care treatments may not be covered at all under a dental insurance plan. Meanwhile, thousands of Americans go to the emergency room each year with dental-related problems.
Striving for better oral and overall health in Jonesborough, Greeneville and Erwin in Tennessee
Dentists operating at the forefront of the field are making themselves educated as to the importance of the mouth-body connection. At Tusculum Dental Care, Drs. Craig Shepherd and Nathaniel Renner are regularly pursuing continuing education and training to stay up to speed on the latest problems plaguing patients—as well as the techniques and technologies to treat these issues. To learn more about the services we provide, or if you are in need of a dentist, we currently are accepting new patients. Make an appointment by calling (423) 639-7575 or completing our online appointment request form.