Are My Teeth Making Me Sick? The Link Between Oral & Whole-Body Health

If you’ve got untreated oral health issues, you may be wondering if things like cavities, tooth infections, or gum disease can affect your whole-body health. Can your teeth really make you sick? Find out now in this blog from Restore Health Dentistry!

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Yes, Your Teeth Can Make You Sick – Here’s What You Should Know

The short answer is “yes.” Your teeth can make you sick, and lead to serious health problems in the long run. This is the most common with infected teeth. If you have a deep cavity or a broken tooth and the inside of the tooth becomes infected, this can spread to other parts of your body without proper treatment. In serious cases, this could lead to issues with breathing and swallowing and even sepsis, which is your body’s potentially life-threatening reaction to a serious infection.

Gum disease can also affect your whole-body health. People with gum disease are more likely to experience serious cardiovascular health problems like strokes and heart disease. This is thought to be due to the spread of bacteria from your gums into the rest of your body.

Unhealthy teeth and gums can affect your health in other ways, too. You may experience pain and discomfort when eating, and this can make it harder to eat some nutritious foods. Oral pain due to bad teeth can also interfere with sleep and your daily routine and may have negative effects on your mental health too.

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Proper Dental Care Helps Protect Your Whole-Body Health

Your mouth is not separate from other parts of your body, so protecting your teeth and gums is important if you’d like to improve your whole-body health. Here are a few steps you can take to make sure that your mouth is in tip-top shape.

• See a dentist for checkups every six months – Preventive care in Los Alamitos is crucial if you want to protect your whole-body health. Routine teeth cleanings from Dr. William help keep your smile healthy. And with six-month oral exams, it’s easy for Dr. William to identify signs of cavities, tooth infections, gum disease, and other common oral health issues.
  
  
• Get any necessary treatment – The longer you wait to treat cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues, the more likely it is that you will experience other health effects. It’s important to get the necessary dental treatment as soon as Dr. Nancy William recommends it.
  
  
• Improve your oral hygiene routine – You should brush at least twice a day and clean each tooth thoroughly. Flossing once per day and using mouthwash can also help improve your oral health.
  
  
• Eat a “tooth-healthy” diet – Cutting back on sugar and processed foods can help improve your oral health. This is especially true of sugary drinks like soda. Smarter dietary choices will improve your oral health and your whole-body health too.
  
  
• Take a look at your lifestyle – Some lifestyle choices have a very significant impact on your oral health. Quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, and taking steps to reduce stress can help improve your oral health and overall health.
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Take Control Of Your Oral Health – Don’t Let Your Teeth Make You Sick

If you’re struggling with your dental health and your overall health, Restore Health Dentistry is here to help. Dr. William and our team can provide the treatment and guidance you need to take control of your whole-body health and wellness in Los Alamitos, CA. Contact us online or give us a call at (562) 936-0071 to schedule an appointment right away.