How Overall Health Affects Dental Health

When it comes to oral health, people usually think of it as a separate entity from the rest of the body, yet the two are connected. In fact, some medical or health conditions directly impact the health of your teeth and gums. In some cases, it is the illness that affects the health of your mouth; and in others, it is the medication or treatment administered.

From diabetes to cancer treatments, these illnesses or treatments can erode tooth enamel, cause a dry mouth and bad breath, or even turn your tongue black. You will need to be more conscious of your dental health if you have:

1.       High Blood Pressure

An estimated 25 percent of the American population suffers from this dangerous condition. Although it is treatable, the medications used have a number of side effects, including gingival enlargement – a condition characterized by inflammation of gums causing them to grow over your teeth.

2.       Diabetes

People with diabetes tend to have high levels of sugar in saliva, as well as reduced saliva flow, which facilitates the growth of bacteria in the mouth. This puts them at higher risk of infections in the mouth from not only bacteria, but also yeast, fungi, and viruses. So, these people have a higher risk of severe tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss. Conversely, people with uncontrolled gum disease can have difficulty controlling diabetes.

3.       Chronic Kidney Disease

Kidney disease is a serious condition that can be fatal if left untreated. It is usually characterized by breath that smells like ammonia or fish. As your condition worsens and the kidneys are unable to filter toxins and waste from your blood, your breath will start smelling like urine.

4.       Acid Reflux

Also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, acid reflux can be diagnosed by your dentist during a normal check-up, since it causes erosion on your back teeth due to powerful acid in your stomach dissolving the enamel. You can protect your teeth by gurgling water in your mouth after every reflux episode. Also avoid taking meals 2-3 hours before bed, and stay away from triggers like caffeine, alcohol, and acidic items.

5.       Stomach Ulcers

Ulcers are usually caused by the bacterium H. pylori, which weaken the protective lining of your stomach and intestine, resulting in sores. Ulcers themselves do not affect your oral health; but the medication used can turn your tongue black. Fortunately, this side effect fades away once you stop taking the treatment.

6.       Other Conditions

There are many more conditions to watch out for, including:

• HIV/AIDS – the virus increases the risk for gum disease, dental caries, and mouth infections (sores, blisters, oral warts, and yeast infections)
• Hyperthyroidism – increases the risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease
• Anemia – insufficient oxygen in the gums leading to gum disease
• Sjogren’s syndrome – dry mouth
• Cancer treatment – known to cause sores, bleeding, and fungal/viral/bacterial infections

Take charge of your health

If you are suffering from any of these conditions, work closely with your dental care providers to come up with a good oral care plan to keep your mouth healthy.

How to avoid the negative impact of stress on your oral health

Most people are aware of the effects of stress on the body, though many don’t realize that it also affects the teeth, jaw, and a number of other oral tissues. Nearly everyone suffers from some form of stress in their life, but some people deal with more stressful situations than others. Regardless of whether you face a little or a lot of stress in your daily life, there is a good chance that the stress is impacting your oral health.

Some of the oral health conditions associated with stress include:

• Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism) – Usually occurs at night while asleep, and is known to cause damage to tooth enamel and teeth, as well as headaches and jaw soreness
• Gum disease – Stress tends to lower your immune system, reducing the ability of the body to fight against harmful bacteria in your mouth
• Dry mouth – Can be a side effect of stress or the medications taken to manage stress or depression, reducing your ability to wash away food particles and neutralize the acid in your mouth, increasing the risk for gum disease, tooth decay, and infection
• Tooth decay – Stress can lead to neglect of proper oral hygiene, and encourage unhealthy lifestyle choices that increase the risk for decay
• Canker sores – Though harmless, the white spots that form on the soft tissue of the mouth can be very painful

How can you improve your oral health and reduce stress?

During your routine dental visits, it is important that you talk to your dentist about any stress-related issues you may be experiencing, and how to manage the implications.

Treatment options to help alleviate painful symptoms include:

• Custom-fitted night guard – Can be worn at night to prevent tooth damage caused by clenching and grinding
• Avoiding hard or crunchy when in pain
• Avoiding alcohol and tobacco as coping mechanisms since they can make the oral symptoms worse (like through dehydration resulting in dry mouth)
• Take pain relief medications or try physical therapy or a gentle massage to help you relax
• Stay out of the sun or protect yourself with a strong sunscreen of at least SPF 30 to prevent cold sores
• Request your dentist or doctor for a prescription for antiviral drugs to prevent cold sores, or anti-inflammatory drugs to manage jaw inflammation

Final note

While managing and treating the symptoms may provide some relief, the biggest contributing factor to your deteriorating oral health is the stress itself. So, you need to consider stress reduction techniques to help manage painful oral health symptoms. Some options include: taking a break from work to relax; exercising and eating a diet rich in iron and proteins; staying hydrated; avoiding refined and excess sugar and caffeine; and changing your attitude.