Oral Health Impacts Your Wellbeing
Most of us go to the dentist at least twice per year as a preventive measure against things like cavities and gum disease. Outside of routine brushing and flossing, many never stop to consider the true importance of oral health.
Studies have found that oral health is one of the top 12 leading indicators of a person’s overall health. Our mouth and body are connected. Oral health, or lack thereof, can impact the health of your heart, lungs, gut, and more.
That’s why, at Evers Dental, we practice complete health dentistry. Here is what that means.
Complete health dentistry is redefining the way that dentists, physicians, and individuals see their health.
Dental disease can have a profound effect on your general health. High-risk bacteria often enter the bloodstream via the mouth. This can threaten overall health and impact day-to-day life. Research has shown that these oral bacteria are directly linked to arterial health and can cause issues like heart attacks and strokes.
The problem is that, for decades, people all over the world viewed oral health as separate from body health. This perspective is now outdated. And it is important that your dentist and physician be well aware of the link between mouth and body.
For example, it has been shown that people with gum disease have double the amount of LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol can collect in the walls of blood vessels, raising the likelihood of heart health problems.
But why does this occur? It is only after taking a comprehensive look at your entire health that the answer becomes clear.
People with gum disease have increased levels of oral bacteria present in their mouth. Oral bacteria can produce chemicals that cause the inner layers of arteries to be ‘stickier’, which makes cholesterol more likely to become trapped and clump into plaque that can cause strokes and other problems.
The mouth is the gateway to health. Poor oral health does not just lead to cavities or gingivitis. In viewing mouth health and body health together, dentists and physicians can identify potential health problems caused by your mouth and implement a target treatment plan that reduces risk.
At Evers Dental, we practice complete health dentistry. Our integrated approach promotes oral health and overall wellbeing.
Complete health dentistry is a comprehensive approach to overall health. We still focus on routine clinical issues, such as cleaning teeth and filling cavities, but we go further to examine the problems and potential consequences of oral disease.
Ensuring the health of your teeth and gums with the care of a complete health dental team means you can significantly reduce the risk of comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and other chronic inflammatory diseases. We know that there exists a link between oral health and body health, and we are here to provide comprehensive care.
Central to our effort of complete health dentistry is patient education. Our dentists are here to explain how oral health relates to the body. And we do this on a patient-by-patient basis. We look at your individual oral health history, medical history, and daily habits. Then we discuss how specific oral health issues can have just as much (if not more!) impact on the body as a communicable disease.
At Evers Dental, we don’t just clean your teeth and send you home. With our complete health approach, we work to keep your mouth and body healthy. If you want to learn more, give us a call today!
