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accessHealthNews.net
March 2024
Volume 10 | Issue No. 82
Oral health affects more than just your
mouth. Untreated oral disease is a
common ailment that increases the
risk and severity of chronic illness. Per
the National Institute for Health Care
Management (NIHCM) Foundation, one in
four adults and one in five children under
age 11 have untreated cavities. Almost
half (46%) of adults over age 30 have
gum disease, also known as periodontal
disease or periodontitis, a condition that
forms when food particles and plaque –
a bacteria-laden sticky film – are left to
build up on teeth and gums, causing the
gums to become swollen, inflamed, and
bleed. If left untreated, this inflammation
can lead to gum recession (when the gum
tissue pulls away from teeth, exposing the
roots underneath) and loss of teeth.
Oral health impacts the entire body
The mouth is the gateway to the rest of the
body. An infection in the mouth can seep
into the bloodstream and spread to other
organs throughout the body. Poor oral
health can contribute to multiple diseases
and conditions, including:
Endocarditis: This heart infection is caused
by bacteria and germs from another
part of your body, including your mouth,
entering the bloodstream and settling in
the heart lining (endocardium), valves, or
blood vessels.
Cardiovascular disease: Although the
connection is not definitively determined,
some research suggests gum disease
may be a risk factor for heart disease
by increasing the body's burden of
inflammation. While acute inflammation
is the body's normal immune response
to defend against attacking microbial
invaders, long-term chronic inflammation
is a culprit in many heart problems,
especially atherosclerosis, which can lead
to stroke and heart attack.
READ MORE
A shortage of dentists and difficulty finding providers
willing to treat patients covered by Medicaid contribute to
rural residents' challenges in accessing oral health care.
