At Millennium Family Dental, we’re trying to get the word out that we are committed to providing complete health dentistry. But what does that mean?
It means we don’t treat your mouth as an isolated unit, because it’s not. It means we understand that oral health is inextricably linked to overall health. Additionally, dental health issues can lead to conditions that manifest themselves in other parts of the body. Lastly, whole-body health conditions show signs in the mouth. It means we know that the most effective dental approach treats you as a whole person, not a collection of disconnected parts.
Want proof that complete health dentistry matters? Here are a few ways that oral health and overall health intertwine in significant ways.
Diabetes
Studies have shown a correlation between diabetes and periodontitis. Periodontitis is an advanced stage of gum disease in which bacteria in the mouth inflame and erode the gums. People with diabetes often have a decreased resistance to bacterial infection and are more susceptible to periodontitis. However, the research also suggests that the correlation works both ways because people with periodontitis also have a higher risk of diabetes. Gum disease can cause blood sugar to rise, making diabetes harder to manage. The good news is that controlling one can make the other easier to control as well.
Pregnancy
Someone with a periodontal infection is more likely to give birth to a low-birth-weight baby. Conversely, hormonal changes that take place during pregnancy can actually increase susceptibility to gum disease.
Heart Disease
Though the exact reasons for the connection are unclear, the correlation is obvious: up to 91% of people with heart disease also have periodontitis. The two share several risk factors, including obesity and smoking. Many professionals believe that when bacteria find their way into your bloodstream through infected gum tissue, they can then travel anywhere and damage blood vessels throughout the body, including in the heart.
These are just a few of the ways oral health can impact and be impacted by whole-body health. Other conditions that have been proven linked to oral health include arthritis, osteoporosis, and eating disorders. When you consider these factors, we think you’ll agree that it just makes sense for us to look at the condition of your entire body when we examine your teeth or create a treatment plan for you. So visit the dentists in Meridian, Idaho, who take a complete approach to your dental care. Contact Millennium Family Dental today.