We welcome our latest guest blog contributor, Melbourne dentist Dr Ian Malkinson from Dental on Clarendon.

Since childhood, we’ve all known how necessary it is to practice good oral health. We may have kicked up a fuss when it came to brushing and flossing before bed, but now as adults, it’s merely part of our daily routine.

Yet, we all know how easy it is to become complacent and fall into bad habits.

Sometimes we just need a little reminder of the importance of caring for our teeth and gums.

As a dentist passionate about promoting excellent dental hygiene, I can attest to the immense influence your mouth’s health can have on your overall well-being.

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body

Many people consider dental care more of a cosmetic matter than a health issue.

However, the risk of being affected by seemingly unrelated health conditions increases if you don’t care for your teeth and gums.

Below are a few health conditions that we attributed to poor oral health.

HEART DISEASE

Gingivitis, also known as gum disease, is linked to chronic conditions such as heart disease.

Plaque build-up on your teeth causes gingivitis, making your gums red, puffy, and bleed often. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis. This is when your gums become further apart from your teeth, capturing bacteria and causing inflammation.

A common link between gingivitis and heart disease is inflammation; your body’s reaction to infection. An accumulation of inflammatory agents in your bloodstream can contribute to heart disease.

DEMENTIA

Foreign bacterial invaders, again usually resulting from poor oral health that leads to inflammation, are associated with dementia.

Bacteria from an inflamed mouth can enter your blood and travel to your brain. When harmful bacteria continually inundate the brain, the body’s defence response can lead to nerve damage and memory loss.

Dementia is especially prevalent in older people. One theory is that a vicious cycle of poor oral hygiene that results from memory loss is at play.

Poor oral hygiene can lead to advanced gingivitis, inflamed gums and an influx of harmful bacteria.

The cycle can be tough to break as physical and mental health deteriorates.

PREMATURE BIRTHS

Infections from the mouth, typically the result of cavities and gum disease, are thought to be associated with premature births and even underweight babies.

So many women develop gum disease during pregnancy that it’s been named ‘pregnancy gingivitis’. Hormonal changes that impact the body’s management of plaque build-up are often to blame.

We think periodontal diseases cause an imbalance of inflammation-regulating cytokines proteins. The resulting inflammation in a pregnant woman’s body can lead to an early birth as the body believes it’s under attack.

Get on Top of Your Oral Health

Apart from the above, other health concerns that may be indirectly linked to poor oral hygiene (and vice versa) include:

• anorexia & bulimia,
• osteoporosis, and
• diabetes.

Your best defence? Make sure your daily dental care routine is up to scratch. Floss, brush and gargle daily and check for any signs of gingivitis.

Visit your dentist every six months as a minimum, even if you feel your teeth and gums are in perfect health.

Talk with your dentist or GP immediately if there are any signs of oral infection or lasting bad breath.

It’s much better to be safe than sorry.

Dr Ian Malkinson is a local dentist and principal of Dental on Clarendon. He has more than 20 years’ experience in both general and cosmetic dentistry.