Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body

Think problems with your gums and teeth are limited to your mouth? Think again. Here are five ways your oral health can be directly linked to your overall wellbeing (some might surprise you!) – and how a visit to the dentist can help.

- Amy Greenburg

#1 How gums give answers

The mouth can give an indication of other illnesses that may be occurring in the body, explains Expat Dental’s DR CLARA GIBSON, a dentist experienced in complex orthodontic treatments.

“For example, conditions such as Crohn’s disease, nutritional deficiencies, endocrine diseases and acid reflux all show clinical signs in the oral cavity.”

And, while periodontal gum disease is associated with bleeding gums, bad breath and loose teeth, she says there is now growing evidence that the effects are also more indicative of what’s going on in the body as a whole.

“Poorly controlled gum disease is known to make it harder to manage diabetes mellitus and, conversely, poorly controlled diabetes can lead to worsening of gum disease,” says Dr Gibson. “There is also increasing evidence that gum disease can increase the likelihood of developing heart disease. The inflammation in the gums allows bacteria to enter into the bloodstream, causing other cardiac issues.”

A regular dental check-up, she says, could help pick up diseases that are occurring in the body, thus allowing more prompt management.

“The reassuring news is that your dentist is trained to identify any signs of disease, whether in the teeth, gums, soft tissue or lymph nodes in the head and neck. Regular reviews ensure that they will quickly detect any new findings and can help manage these with you. There is no doubt that maintaining good oral health can positively impact your health as a whole.”

#2 Tooth alignment: More than cosmetic