How Oral Health Is Affecting Your Overall Health 

Oral health issues are stunningly prevalent in our society. And this becomes all the more urgent when you consider the deep, complex, relationship between your oral health and your overall health.

Associations between periodontal diseases and systemic conditions (i.e. affecting the entire body) have been widely studied, often attributed to the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream and pro-inflammatory proteins that can affect other parts of your body. These associations occur via shared underlying pathways and exposure to common risk factors, such as age, socio-economic status and lifestyle choices.

Scientific research has helped us understand these links with greater clarity, underscoring the importance of managing these risk factors and prioritizing excellent oral care for those with predisposing traits.

Here we’ll explore some of the known associations between oral health and overall health, including links to systemic diseases, pregnancy implications, and a range of other potential associations.

Oral health and systemic diseases

As we’ve explored in the past, research has surfaced dozens of links between systemic health issues and gum disease. Explained at length in the linked article, these systemic links have been seen with a number of very common conditions, including:

• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Cancer
• Rheumatoid Arthritis

Obviously, these are all very serious health issues. If you have a genetic predisposition to any of them, it’s wise to place extra emphasis on taking great care of your teeth and gums to avoid oral health issues that could exacerbate or complicate noncommunicable diseases like these. Familiarize yourself with symptoms and indicators of each, and take a proactive approach to communicating with both your dentist and physician about any concerns.

Oral health and pregnancy

During pregnancy, we advise being especially mindful of the connection between your oral health and overall health – not to mention the overall health of your little one!

Many women – as many as 67-100% – experience gingivitis during pregnancy, even those who are taking good care of their oral health and might not have had such issues in the past. This heightened inflammatory response is the body’s natural reaction to an increase in sex hormones. Even though it is very common, you should still speak with your dental professional about any concerns you may have.

Knowing that your gums may be a little extra tender and sensitive, be careful but intentional with your oral care routine, even in the midst of pregnancy gingivitis.

Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and make sure to clean interdentally each day. 

Nutrients important to oral health include:

• Calcium: Protects and rebuilds enamel (the hard outer protective layer of the tooth). Found in dairy products, yogurt, leafy greens, and almonds.

• Phosphorus: Also contributes to protecting and rebuilding tooth enamel. Found in protein-rich foods like meat, poultry, fish, and eggs.

• Fiber: Counteracts sugars in the mouth and stimulates saliva production. Found in fruits and vegetables.

• Potassium: Low potassium intake has been proven to be associated with tooth loss, indicating the beneficial effects of dietary potassium intake on oral health. Potassium is found in root vegetables like beet greens, potatoes, squash, and yams, as well as spinach, carrot juice, and plantains. 

• Vitamin A: A lower intake of vitamin A has been associated with decreased oral epithelial development, impaired tooth formation, enamel hypoplasia, and periodontitis. Vitamin A is found in herring, salmon, organ meats such as beef liver, green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, carrots, broccoli, fruits, milk, cheese, and eggs. 

• Vitamin C: The vital role of vitamin C in promoting tooth health is well-studied. Vitamin C contributes to collagen synthesis, which is an important protein for providing tooth structure, support, and maintenance. Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, red and green peppers, kiwis, broccoli, strawberries, brussels sprouts, and cantaloupe.

• Vitamin D: Vitamin D plays a key role in bone and tooth mineralization. Low vitamin D levels can make teeth hypomineralized and susceptible to decay and fracture. Vitamin D is primarily obtained from exposure to sunlight, but it can also be found in oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, and oils from fish.

• Vitamin K: There has been a confirmed inverse association between vitamin K intake and the progression of periodontal attachment loss, which means regularly ingesting vitamin K can help prevent tooth loss over time. Vitamin K is found in spinach, turnips, kale, broccoli, brussels sprouts, asparagus, and other leafy greens.

Other general health implications of oral health issues

Studies have identified a number of smaller and more subtle health effects that can be traced back to oral health, some of which may relate to the systemic health issues cited above.

1. Lack of appetite

There have been studies on the relationship between poor oral health and eating disorders, but at a more general level, tooth and gum pain have the propensity to alter eating habits for the simple reason that it can hurt to bite and chew. If you find that oral health issues are affecting your desire or ability to eat the foods you normally enjoy – especially those that help to keep gingivitis at bay – it should serve as an immediate prompt to go see your dentist.

2. COVID-19 severity

With concerns about the coronavirus pandemic continuing, it is vital that we all remain vigilant against its many impacts and implications. The connection between oral health and COVID-19 has come into greater focus under study from the medical community.

There is evidence that advanced gum disease can make a person more likely to suffer complications from COVID-19, including ICU admission, need for ventilator assistance, and death. At the same time, good oral health can reduce fatal outcomes.

3. Depression

A study of more than 13,000 patients from general practices in the UK “demonstrated an association between chronic gingivitis and subsequent depression.” The link was seen across men and women of all age groups.

This is especially troubling because it can lead to self-sustaining patterns and deteriorating oral health. As Dr. Samuel Low explained in an interview with DentistryIQ:

People all around the world are struggling with their mental health during the challenging times we face. If you’re among them, don’t feel alone and please explore these resources for help and support.

What should you do?

As these main examples reiterate, your oral health and overall health are interlinked in profound and fundamental ways. If you notice any of these effects, and suspect they may relate in some way to your oral health, it’s worth getting in touch with your physician and dentist to form a plan.

In general, use this information as a motivator to create and sustain a healthy lifestyle that protects both your oral AND overall health!

Mitigating lifestyle risk factors such as smoking, drinking, poor diet, and lack of exercise can benefit your wellness in multiple ways.