Oral health is an essential part of staying healthy. Good oral health allows a person to talk, smile, smell, taste, touch, chew, swallow, and make facial expressions to show feelings and emotions. Poor oral health has serious consequences, including painful, disabling, and costly oral diseases. Normally, the body's natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, keep bacteria under control.
However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that could cause oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Researchers know that there is a synergistic relationship between oral health and general well-being. Gum disease is linked to a number of diseases including heart disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Analyzing more than 1,000 medical records, researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry found that people with gum disease were twice as likely as others to die from a heart attack and three times more likely to suffer a stroke.
Finally, the connection between oral health and general health can be seen in the case of oral and pharyngeal cancers. More than 35,000 cases of oral and pharyngeal cancer are diagnosed annually, and each year there are nearly 8,000 deaths due to these types of cancer (American Cancer Society, 200. African American men, in particular, have a relatively high incidence of oral cancers and, as a group, are generally diagnosed later in the disease and have a significantly lower 5-year survival rate. A healthy mouth can be a big advantage.
Our teeth have a very important role to play in our lives. They help us chew and digest food, help us speak and speak clearly, and they also shape our face. Oral health is much more than healthy teeth; it also includes the health of many other anatomical structures, such as gums, bones, ligaments, muscles, glands and nerves. People who have healthy gums are also 70 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than those who have had gum disease for a long period of time.
However, solutions must focus on health outcomes, health benefits, and the best interest of the patient. Exams and dental cleaning can help detect any oral conditions or health complications caused by oral diseases. Good dental care can also help improve self-esteem because healthy teeth and gums are important to your feelings about yourself. In the next decade, certain demographic changes will emphasize the importance of the connection between oral health and overall health and well-being.
But unfortunately, separation causes many people to believe that dental care is somehow less important than general medical care. Maria Emanuel Ryan DDS, PhD, periodontist and professor of oral biology and pathology, Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine, Stony Brook, N. To realize the many benefits of regular preventive care, people should see a dental provider regularly. These replacement options for missing teeth are often recommended for oral health and aesthetic appearance purposes.
Systemic diseases, such as diabetes, often begin to manifest as an injury to the mouth or other dental problems, such as a gum infection.
