There are links between oral health and serious medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and pregnancy. Learn how these are related and what the risk factors are.
What does oral systemic health really mean?
Dr. John Vitale: It’s pretty simple. It’s the idea that oral health plays a role in the overall health of your body. It’s the inter-relationship between the two.
Why are diabetics more at risk for developing oral health conditions?
Dr. John Vitale: Higher blood sugars usually makes diabetes harder to control and as a result, there are some diseases that are attributed to diabetes sometimes. For example, thrush, dry mouth and some other generic disorders.
How is periodontal disease or gum disease linked to heart disease?
Dr. John Vitale: Statistically, gum disease increases your risk of heart disease by about 20%. Inflammations of the gums and bacteria causes narrowing of the blood vessels and arteries in people’s bodies.
What risks do pregnant women face when it comes to oral health?
Dr. John Vitale: When a woman is pregnant, her blood volume increases and as a result, she can develop pregnancy gingivitis from oral bacteria. And so, we generally require three visits of gum cleanings during the pregnancies.
Are there other serious medical conditions that can be traced back to oral health?
Dr. John Vitale: More and more are being found every day. Cardiovascular disease, dementia, respiratory infections, diabetes, pregnancy complications, cancer, and a whole list of others.
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