Poor oral hygiene affects more than your mouth.

Oral health is about much more than the appearance of your smile or even the strength and function of your teeth and gums. It also plays a major role in your overall health in many ways. Bad teeth lead to a variety of potential complications, and keeping up with proper oral hygiene is the best way to prevent those from happening.

Below are five notable ways in which not maintaining a proper focus on your oral health can impact your general health as well:

1. Gum Disease

If you aren’t brushing properly, plaque will accumulate around your gumline, allowing bacteria to infect and inflame the underlying tissue. The result is gum disease, a serious condition with long-term oral health ramifications.

Even early stages of gum disease will have you experiencing symptoms, such as bad breath and red, swollen, or bleeding gums. If left untreated, gum disease progresses to serious symptoms such as gum recession and even tooth loss. 

Regular brushing and flossing prevent plaque buildup to prevent gum disease. It’s also important to keep up with routine dental visits, as professional teeth cleanings will remove plaque and tartar buildup in places you can’t reach effectively.

2. Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is another risk if you don’t maintain good oral health. The same bacteria responsible for gum disease also harm your teeth because they secrete acidic compounds as they metabolize food. Those compounds weaken the enamel and cause it to wear down. You may first notice that wear as your teeth become more sensitive.

Cavities will form, which require tooth fillings to prevent more serious damage. If you don’t get them treated, you may need a root canal or even a tooth extraction to deal with bad teeth. Cavity prevention is, therefore, the best approach, so remember to always brush and floss.

Serious tooth decay leads to tooth loss, which impacts your ability to chew properly. As a result, you may find yourself dealing with nutritional issues over time. Tooth loss can also impact your social life, as living with dentures or other replacement teeth can affect your confidence.

3. Heart Health

While it might not seem obvious at first, your oral health affects many aspects of your whole body health. Heart health is among the most serious examples, with poor oral hygiene contributing to increased risk of various heart conditions.

When they enter the bloodstream, the bacteria associated with gum disease may promote excessive clot formation, which can lead to potential blood vessel damage. You’ll also find yourself at a higher risk of heart attack or stroke if blood clotting becomes an ongoing health issue. There is also a risk of increased bacteria spreading through your bloodstream and causing arterial plaque buildup.

Other serious oral infections also put additional stress on your cardiovascular system, which can be particularly harmful for patients with pre-existing conditions. 

4. Diabetes Complications

Diabetes is closely associated with gum disease, with both conditions being seen as risk factors for one another. While that is generally due to other shared risk factors between the two, there are also some more direct connections.

Controlling blood sugar levels is essential for effective diabetes management, and the increase associated with the inflammation that comes from gum disease makes doing so more difficult.

Diabetes also contributes to oral health challenges, such as higher glucose levels in saliva, which can provide additional energy for the bacteria in your mouth responsible for gum disease and tooth decay.

5. Respiratory Issues

Lastly, poor oral hygiene presents a risk of bacterial aspiration. Inhaling bacteria into the lungs increases the risk of respiratory infections like pneumonia. Such a risk is most prominent during sleep or in patients who have difficulty swallowing.

Patients with existing respiratory problems are also at a higher risk of complications due to poor oral hygiene. The presence of oral bacteria and inflammation exacerbates certain conditions, such as COPD, impacting lung function and posing a serious health risk.

Chronic gum disease impacts the immune system, leaving your body less capable of fighting respiratory pathogens. And the inflammatory response leaves you vulnerable to lung infections that can have major long-term impacts.

How your dentist in Oklahoma City can support your overall health.

It’s natural to be concerned about the impact that bad teeth could have on your overall health, but you can take steps to prevent any complications. First, remember to keep up with brushing and flossing from home. It’s also essential that you maintain regular visits with your trusted family dentist near Lake Hefner. Lake Pointe Dental Group provides the preventive care and guidance you need to enjoy the best in oral health. Schedule your next appointment today.