Apple Dental Lane Cove – How Your Oral Health Impacts Your Body

Apple Dental is a foundation sponsor of In the Cove.

Did you know your body doesn’t distinguish between oral health and general health?

At Apple Dental, they care about your oral health and your general health.

Oral health has largely been the focus of dentistry, and there is a strange absence of oral/ dental health knowledge in the medical world.

Few modern doctors or dentists would argue for a separation between your oral health and general health; the way our body functions certainly does not. This strange split originally came from teeth being seen as mechanical objects, removed by barbers, and seen outside of medicine, which focused on biology. Since then, the two schools, dentistry and medicine, established their own ecosystems in the West.

Recently, more evidence has emerged about how oral health impacts general health. After all, the mouth is an entry point for the body. It has its own microbiome, just like the gut, and it leads to the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems.

An unbalanced microbiome, poor diet, and poor oral hygiene can lead to bacterial problems in the mouth. Bacteria in the mouth cause tooth decay and gum disease.

Bacteria can enter the body through the teeth through decay or gums in patients with gum disease. This link is the reason why poor oral health is linked to

• Cardiovascular disease
• Endocarditis – The bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream in the mouth through dental decay or gum disease and attach themselves to the heart’s inner lining of the heart valves.
• Pregnancy and birth complications – Gum disease involving bone (Periodontitis) has been linked to lower birth weight and premature birth.
• Lung infections (Pneumonia) – Oral bacteria/ plaque can be inhaled and cause lung infection.
• Diabetes – Gum disease can increase blood sugar levels. Improving gum health can help decrease blood sugar levels.

At Apple Dental, we aim to focus on your overall health, not just your teeth and gums.

If we notice a risk to your general health, we will immediately refer you to your regular GP or medical specialist for further care.

Tips for Good Oral Health

To keep your oral health up to date, we recommend:

• Brushing and flossing twice a day
• Mouthwashing after meals to remove food debris
• Reducing the frequency and also the number of sugary foods
• Favouring plain water as your drink of choice
• Visiting Apple Dental, for regular routine examinations and hygiene cleans.