How Your Dentist in Grand Prairie Helps Your Overall Health

What do you think your dentist is looking for during your biannual checkup? The most obvious answer, of course, is the plaque and tartar that can lead to cavities and gum disease. The bacteria on your teeth can be a threat to your oral health, but did you know they might contribute to other conditions as well? Or that symptoms of larger health issues have a good chance of manifesting in the mouth? Here’s how your dentist in Grand Prairie has been helping your entire body.

Conditions Linked to Oral Health

Infected gums have been linked with several conditions. Studies have found that patients with gum disease are more likely to also suffer from cardiovascular problems such as heart attack and stroke; some researchers believe this could be due to bacteria entering the bloodstream and damaging important blood vessels. A direct causal link has not been proven, but it may be possible that gum disease could exacerbate existing problems.

Other findings have suggested a connection between oral diseases and pneumonia. When bacteria in the mouth are inhaled, they can enter the respiratory system and create an infection.

Diseases with Oral Symptoms

A systemic disease is one that affects the entire body rather than a single organ or area. Most systemic diseases will have symptoms that manifest in the mouth. Examples include:

• Diabetes: Since diabetes makes the body more vulnerable to infection in general, it makes those who have it more likely to suffer from gum disease and tooth decay. It can also be indicated by mouth ulcers and low saliva levels (dry mouth).
• HIV/AIDS: Painful lesions in the mouth can be a sign of HIV.
• Osteoporosis: If you have loose teeth or a weak jawbone, it could indicate bone loss.
• Oral cancer: This is the sixth most common form of cancer. This may appear as a red or white patch on the gums, but there are other manifestations as well.
• Bulimia: Over time, this condition will wear away at the teeth.

How Your Dentist Protects Your Health

A lot of the warning signs of systemic diseases can be found during a routine examination. Oftentimes an oral cancer screening is part of a checkup. X-rays can be useful in detecting bone loss.

Your dentist may not be able to treat systemic diseases such as diabetes, but they can point you in the right direction for proper diagnosis and treatment, which can increase your chances for a positive outcome. Since dental visits are usually done twice a year, there’s more opportunity for potential health issues to be identified.

And of course, your dentist’s primary job is cleaning plaque and tartar to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Not only is this good for your teeth, but it also helps prevent bacterial infections from spreading. Hence, it’s essential to keep those appointments for the health of your smile as well as the rest of your body.