Medical Conditions Linked To Poor Dental Care
Posted on: 11 September 2015
Proper dental care is not just important for your teeth and gums. It could possibly help prevent the development of other medical conditions. Here are several conditions that have been linked to poor dental hygiene.
Respiratory Diseases
By failing to practice good oral hygiene, you could be increasing your risk of developing a respiratory disease, such as pneumonia. Researchers believe that bacteria from the mouth can affect lungs and lead to respiratory issues. People who have experienced a higher number of gum problems have a higher mortality rate after contracting pneumonia.
Dementia
The bacteria that causes gingivitis has been linked to the development of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Researchers believe that after being exposed to the bacteria over an extended period of time, symptoms, such as a confusion, can start to occur. Exposure happens through a number of daily tasks, such as brushing the teeth and eating.
Researchers in one study concluded that the early detection of the bacteria could help to identify the likelihood that someone would develop dementia.
Heart Disease
Gum diseases that allow harmful bacteria to spread to the bloodstream could be responsible for heart disease. The bacteria travels by blood into the arteries in the heart. As a result, the arteries can start to hardened and limit the flow of blood to and from the heart. The lack of blood flow can increase the likelihood that you could experience a heart attack or stroke.
There is also the possibility that the bacteria from the infected gums can cause an infection of the heart lining. Endocarditis is an infection that can prove to be life-threatening if undetected and untreated.
Prostate Diseases
One study found that poor dental care can sometimes lead to a worsening of prostate disease symptoms. Gum disease that is treated can result in an improvement of the symptoms of prostatitis. Prostatitis is a disease that causes inflammation of the gland responsible for producing semen. As a result, difficulty with urinating can occur.
In the study, the participants who received the most benefit from dental care were those who had the most severe symptoms of prostatitis.
There are many other medical conditions that are affected by poor dental care. Talk to your family dentist about steps you can take to ensure that you are taking the right steps to reduce your risk of developing those medical conditions and properly caring for your teeth and gums. For more information, contact a company like Neu Family Dental Center.
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