Neglecting your oral hygiene could lead you to your worst nightmare. In recent studies, researchers have linked life threatening systemic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, dementia and even pregnancy complications to edentulism, gum disease and poor oral hygiene.
Here are some of the scariest diseases which have been linked with poor oral hygiene:Pancreatic Cancer Some of the oral bacteria has been traced as the root cause of many forms of cancers that include lung, breast and esophageal and now pancreatic cancer has also been added to this list. A recent study identified two specific types of oral bacteria which increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Recent studies found that oral bacteria which is responsible for periodontal disease also leads to the aches and pains of rheumatoid arthritis. This research is the closest that came near uncovering the root cause of rheumatoid arthritis.
Mercury Poisoning According to a recent research on adults, it was found that adults with eight or more than eight teeth fillings have 150% more mercury in their blood. As we know that extended mercury exposure has potential danger for your health and this danger is exacerbated in patients through dental fillings.
Lung Cancer Gum disease is not only a bad news for your mouth. It also has serious effects on your pulmonary system. Studies show that individuals with periodontal disease are at higher risk of developing lung cancer.
Pneumonia Maintaining your regular dental cleaning is much more than just keeping your teeth and gum healthy. Through different studies, it was found that routine dental cleaning decreases the risk of pneumonia caused by oral bacteria.
Dementia and Cognitive Decline Periodontal and gum disease are usual in older people and become more common with those who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Higher level of antibodies to periodontal bacteria have been found associated with an increased level of inflammatory molecules which increases the risk of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease.
As you can see how neglecting your oral health can increase the risk of serious systemic diseases, regular dental checkups and proper oral hygiene is very necessary to maintain your overall oral health.
