Mouth-Body Connection

Healthy teeth and gums are linked to your overall health in a mouth-body connection. Science has found a connection between gum disease and heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, pregnancy complications, and more. Protect your lasting health with dental care at Ueno Center Dental Specialists in Campbell, California, serving San Jose, Cupertino, Los Gatos and surrounding areas. With a team that includes board-certified periodontists, the practice promotes a healthy mouth and body. Call the office today or book your next visit online.

What is the mouth-body connection?

Dentists have long suspected there’s a mouth-body connection between periodontal disease and chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis — and now science confirms it.

Periodontal disease, often called gum disease, occurs when disease-causing bacteria create inflammation in your gums and infection below your gum line. Infections and bacteria from the mouth will get into your bloodstream via ulcerations in your gums and can spread from your mouth to your body, potentially leading to significant health issues. 

You can counter this effect with excellent oral hygiene and proper periodontal treatment at Ueno Center Dental Specialists to stop gum disease before it has a chance to affect the rest of your body.

What is the mouth-body connection to diabetes?

If you have diabetes, you’re more likely to develop gum disease. When your blood sugar isn’t under control, you also have a higher risk of developing gum disease more frequently, and your condition may be more severe than someone whose diabetes is under control. When a person with diabetes gets the proper gum treatment, it can reduce their overall blood sugar levels and make them healthier!

What is the mouth-body connection to heart disease?

If the bacteria in the mouth get into the bloodstream, it can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.  In fact, oral bacteria have been found in arterial plaques! By getting the proper periodontal treatment, it may decrease your risk for future cardiovascular disease.

What is the mouth-body connection to pregnancy?

Having gum disease during pregnancy may expose your growing baby to a variety of risks and possible complications. Pregnancy causes many hormonal changes that increase your likelihood of developing gingivitis or gum inflammation. These oral problems are linked to:

• Preeclampsia (high blood pressure)
• Low birth weights
• Premature birth

Fortunately, good oral hygiene and periodontal treatment at Ueno Center Dental Specialists may cut your risk of these complications by half.

What is the mouth-body connection to respiratory disorders?

Bacteria in your mouth and throat can be drawn into your lower respiratory tract, potentially causing infection or pneumonia, or worsening existing lung conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Gum disease may also have a role in whether you contract bronchitis and emphysema. 

What is the mouth-body connection to osteoporosis?

Gum disease also leads to bone loss. Studies show that women with periodontal bacteria are more likely to have bone loss in their mouths and jaws, potentially leading to tooth loss. Research also found that post-menopausal women with osteoporosis are 86% more likely to develop periodontal disease, likely due to estrogen deficiency. 

To promote your lasting mouth-body health, make sure to visit Ueno Center Dental Specialists for routine cleanings and advanced care, as needed. Call the office today or request your visit online.