Oral Systemic Health Overview

Without Good Periodontal Health, You Can’t Have Good General Health

The oral systemic system overview shows how your oral cavity can affect other functions of your body. The oral cavity can affect how you breathe. It can also affect your cardiovascular system, bone mass and it can affect how your body can control chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Your oral cavity secretes and breaks down fluids that go into other areas of the body. The graphic below is meant to show the whole body relationship with the oral cavity.

Here are a few examples of how periodontal disease can affect general health:

Oral Systemic Health Overview

Respiratory Infections

  • Inhaling bacteria from the mouth and throat can lead to pneumonia
  • Dental plaque buildup creates a dangerous source of bacteria that can be inhaled into the lungs

Severe Osteopenia

  • Reduction in bone mass (osteopenia) is assocaited with gum disease and related tooth loss
  • Severity has been connected to tooth loss in postmenopausal women

Preterm or Low Birthweight Babies

  • Women with advanced gum disease may be more likely to give birth to an underweight or preterm baby
  • Oral microbes can cross the placental barrier, exposing the fetus to infection

Stroke

  • Those with adult periodontitis may have increased risk of stroke

Heart Disease

  • Those with adult periodontitis may have increased risk of fatal heart attack…
  • And are more likely to be diagnosed with cardiovascular disease
  • Bacteria from the mouth may cause clotting problems in the cardiovascular system

Uncontrolled Diabetes

  • Chronic periodontal disease can disrupt diabetic control
  • Diabetes can alter the pocket environment, contributing to bacterial overgrowth
  • Smokers with diabetes increase their risk of tooth loss by 20 times
  • People with type II diabetes are 3 times as likely to develop periodontal disease than are nondiabetics
Oral Systemic Health Overview: Without Good Periodontal Health, You Can’t Have Good General Health