Ways Poor Oral Hygiene Can Negatively Affect Your Health

One of the most important things to take care of when it comes to your health are your gums and teeth. This is because the mouth is one of the biggest gateways into your body, so any bacteria from your mouth can travel to other parts of your body and put you at risk for other conditions and diseases. There is a reason as to why your dentist tells you to floss and brush your teeth every single day. According to American Dental Association’s survey, less then 31% of Americans floss daily, and almost 19% don’t floss at all. But how exactly does this negatively affect your overall health?

Firstly, not taking care of your teeth and gums can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. Patients who suffer from some type of periodontal disease are twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart disease and narrowing arteries that is caused by plaque and bacteria that enters the body through the gums. The bacteria that enters your gums will travel through your arteries and clog them which increases your risk of heart attack. The blood vessel that sends blood to your brain can become clogged and increase your risk of suffering from a stroke as well.

Another way in which your health can be affected from lack of oral hygiene is it can lead to suffering tooth loss which can lead to loss of memory which can lead to dementia. There are substances which are inflammatory in nature which can lead to parts of the brain dying.

Furthermore, respiratory conditions can be exacerbated from poor oral hygiene. If you have periodontal disease, bacteria has the potential to travel into your bloodstream and into your lungs where it can have a direct impact on your respiratory system. It puts you at a greater risk of suffering from acute bronchitis or chronic pneumonia.

Surprisingly, periodontal disease can also increase one’s risk of diabetes. It has been found that there is a connection between diabetes and poor oral hygiene due to the fact that 95% of individuals who live in the United States also have some form of periodontal disease or have lost some of their teeth. This is because if you have diabetes, your chances of obtaining certain infections skyrockets. Diabetes can also directly impact a person’s ability to control their blood sugar levels.

Lastly, not taking care of your gums and teeth can lead to certain types of cancer. Many experts in the field have found that men who suffer from gum disease are almost 50% more likely to be diagnosed with kidney cancer or cancer of the pancreas. They’re also 30% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer within the blood.