Have you ever thought about how your mouth can affect the rest of your body? Oral health deals with much more than just teeth; it also includes the health status of the gums, bones, muscles, ligaments, glands, and nerves. Additionally, oral health affects vital basic human functions, thereby shaping self-image and sense of well-being. These functions allow us to speak, smile, sigh, kiss, smell, taste, touch, chew, swallow, and so many more things that convey feeling and emotions through facial expressions. With the increasing research in the area, the clearer it becomes how oral health directly or indirectly attributes to overall health.

Many medical conditions may affect oral health and visa versa. For example, the metabolic processes of people with Type 2 diabetes can explain the increased destruction of tissue leading to diabetic periodontitis (periodontal disease). Conversely, periodontal disease has been shown to exacerbate blood sugar control in diabetic people. A recent study concluded that diabetic patients who received proper and adequate periodontal care had lower medical expenses overall. Other mild associations have been shown linking periodontal disease and hearth attacks, though more concrete evidence must be provided to establish a certain relationship between the two. Many studies have also concluded an association between periodontal disease and adverse outcomes in pregnancy such as premature deliveries, fetal growth restriction, and other complications.

The oral cavity can also serve as a source for early detection of significant medical concern. For example, lesions seen in the mouth may be a first indication of HIV infection. Saliva is also used as a marker to detect and measure medication, hormones, environmental toxins, and antibodies and thereby might serve to replace invasive blood testing for monitoring of chronic diseases. Last but not least, the connection between oral health and overall health can be seen in oral and pharyngeal cancers. Over 35,000 cases of oral and pharyngeal cancers are diagnosed annually, and there are almost 8,000 deaths each year due to these types of cancer.

The glaring connection between oral health and overall health cannot be ignored. Dental healthcare professionals are here to serve and help patients attain health and happiness as much as any other healthcare professional. So please see your dentist and hygienists regularly and take your overall health into your own hands, starting with oral health!