Whole body health
Your oral health and the health of your body are connected.
What happens in your mouth can affect the rest of your body, and what happens in your body can affect your mouth.
Here are some health problems that are linked to your oral health:
Diabetes:
If you have diabetes, your body has a harder time fighting off infections. This means your gums are more at risk. Gum disease seems to happen more often and can be worse in people with diabetes. High blood sugar (if your diabetes isn't controlled) can make the bacteria that cause gum disease grow more in your mouth. Studies show that if you have gum disease, it's harder to control your blood sugar. Going to the dentist regularly can help you control your diabetes.
Heart disease and stroke:
Heart disease and clogged arteries might be linked to the swelling and infections that bacteria in your mouth can cause. There's a link between gum disease and heart disease and stroke risk factors, like arteries getting thicker and fatty deposits building up in your arteries. People with gum disease are more likely to have a heart attack later in life. Studies show that cavities are linked to a 40% higher chance of stroke and a 13% higher chance of dying from any cause. Doctors and scientists have found gum disease bacteria in heart valves that were removed during surgery.
Endocarditis:
Endocarditis is a rare but serious infection of the inside lining of your heart. It happens when bacteria from another part of your body, like your mouth, travel through your blood and stick to parts of your heart.
Sleep problems:
Research shows that the shape and health of your mouth can put men, women, and children at risk for bad sleep that needs to be found and treated. Studies suggest that problems with the mouth in babies and young children can lead to sleep apnea (when one stops breathing during sleep) as an adult.
Breathing through your mouth and where your tongue sits in your mouth affect the formation of your upper jaw, sinuses, nose, and the roof of your mouth. The shapes of these structures affect breathing, chewing, and swallowing.
Limited tongue movement, odd mouth shapes, and a narrow airway can lead to poor plaque control, dry mouth or too much saliva, breathing with an open mouth, and your tongue pushing forward when you swallow.
If you're missing teeth or have no teeth and don't wear dentures, your tongue can fall back into your airway while you're awake or sleeping. Missing teeth also changes the height of your face, which can affect your upper airway and the back of your throat. Big tonsils that crowd your airway can make you breathe through your mouth and get poor sleep.
Other signs in your mouth that might mean you're breathing with an open mouth and getting poor sleep include gum swelling, gum disease (periodontal disease), dry mouth, high risk of cavities, poor plaque control, poor salivary control, missing teeth, or no teeth.
Dentists should check for sleep-related breathing problems during all oral health exams. Facial features that might make a dentist worried about sleep quality include loose skin on the face, a small chin, a short upper lip, lips that are always open, an open bite (when your top and bottom teeth don't meet), always dry or too wet lips, dried food at the corners of your lips, a long and narrow face, and dark circles under your eyes. Other signs and symptoms related to poor sleep quality can include:
- Being "tongue-tied" (when the tissue under your tongue is too short).
- Enlarged tonsils.
- A high, narrow roof of the mouth.
If your dentist and you are worried about a sleep problem, it will be good to see a doctor for more tests. Your regular doctor is a good person to start with when dealing with complex sleep issues.
Pregnancy and birth complications:
Being pregnant can make women more likely to get gum disease and cavities.
About 60% to 75% of pregnant women get gingivitis, which is an early stage of gum disease. Gingivitis happens when gums get red and swollen, which can get worse because of changing hormones during pregnancy. If gingivitis isn't treated, you can lose bone that supports your teeth, and your gums can get infected.
A more serious gum disease called periodontitis has been linked to babies being born too early and having a low birth weight. Scientists have found the types of bacteria involved in gum disease in the placenta of pregnant women.
Pregnant women might also be at risk for cavities because their eating habits can change. Women with a lot of cavity-causing bacteria during and after pregnancy could pass these bacteria from their mouth to their baby's mouth.
Dental care is safe and important during pregnancy. You can visit the dentist any time during your pregnancy. Tell your dentist you are pregnant. They will make a special treatment plan for your needs during and after your pregnancy.
Other health problems that are linked to poor oral health are:
- Dementia and Alzheimer's,
- Arthritis,
- Sjorgren's syndrome,
- Osteoporosis,
- Kidney disease,
- Pneumonia, and
- Certain types of cancers.
To protect your oral health, take care of your mouth every day:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time. Use a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Brush your tongue too.
- Clean between your teeth daily with floss, a water flosser, or other products made for that purpose.
- Eat healthy foods and limit foods and drinks with a lot of sugar.
- Change your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. Change it sooner if the bristles are worn out or spread apart.
- Don't use tobacco products.
- Call your dentist right away if you notice any problems with your mouth.
See a dentist at least once a year for check-ups and cleanings. Your dentist might suggest visits or cleanings more often, based on your health. You might be sent to a gum doctor, called a periodontist, if your gums need more care.
Remember to tell your dentist about all your health conditions so they can figure out the best treatment plan for you. Taking care of your oral health protects your whole body's health!
Where can you find a dentist?
You can also find a dentist that accepts Medicaid at https://medicaid.utah.gov.
Or call 1-866-608-9422 to talk to a Medicaid health program representative.
Click the links below to download flyers containing this information.
Visit the websites below for supplemental materials.
A Healthy Mouth for Every Body
A Healthy Mouth for Every Body oral health literacy campaign offers tools to help people learn how to take good care of their oral health and how it is connected to overall health and wellbeing. Use these free materials for talking with others about oral health.
MouthHealthy ADA
MouthHealthy is a website for all people to help them learn everything they need to know about keeping their smile healthy and bright at every age.
One Utah Health Collaborative
The vision of the collaborative is affordable healthcare that improves the quality of life for all. Through public and private funding, a community-centric approach, and emphasis on supporting innovation, the collaborative aligns the community on a long-term roadmap to a better healthcare system.
Utah's Healthy Environments and Active Living Program (HEAL)
The HEAL program works to improve education and supports programs that prevent and manage chronic diseases, such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and obesity.