For those needing restorative treatments, such as fillings, crowns, or bridges to repair damaged teeth or replace missing ones, dental professionals in Littlestown, Hanover, and Gettysburg are skilled in providing high-quality care to restore dental function and aesthetics.

An attractive, healthy smile is only one part of dental health. Patients who ignore their dental health may be unknowingly putting themselves at risk for significant health problems. The respiratory and digestive systems both enter via the mouth. While some harmful microbes are fought off by regular brushing and salivation, certain medical conditions may encourage the growth of bacteria. 

Furthermore, gum and tooth infections can be caused by poor dental hygiene. If bacteria are not treated, they may reach the bloodstream and lead to serious health problems. Contact a dentist servicing Littlestown, Hanover, and Gettysburg, PA, to learn more about effective dental care. 

Ways by which oral health affects your entire body

Researchers have shown a synergistic connection between general well-being and dental health. Many diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disorders, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis, have been linked to gum disease. Through an analysis of more than a thousand medical records, researchers have discovered that people with gum disease had three times the risk of suffering from a stroke and twice the risk of dying from a heart attack.

Although being the most common chronic inflammatory illness globally, gum disease frequently goes undetected. Why? The oral cavity may serve as an entrance point for pathogens. Prolonged inflammation of the mouth may allow germs into circulation, which may lead to further irritation in other bodily areas, including the heart.

• Endocarditis

You are more likely to get endocarditis, swelling of the lining of your heart valves (and possibly the lining of your heart chambers), if you have coronary artery disease or other heart-related conditions.

• Challenges during birth and pregnancy

Pregnancy is a further reason to take extra care of your body, including your oral health. Poor dental health in pregnant women is linked to:

• Restriction on fetal growth.
• Diabetes throughout pregnancy.
• Low weight at birth.
• Miscarriage.
• Stillbirth.
• Pre-eclampsia.
• Pneumonia

Having dental cavities has been linked to the risk of developing pneumonia, a viral, bacterial, or fungal lung infection.

• Cardiovascular diseases

Heart and blood vessel-related conditions are all referred to as “cardiovascular disease.” Cardiovascular disease in the following kinds are related to poor dental health:

• Coronary artery disease

Heart attack, heart failure, and other problems may arise from coronary artery disease, the most common kind of heart disease.

• Clogged arteries

Research shows that atherosclerosis, or the accumulation of plaque inside the blood arteries that carry oxygen and blood from the heart to the body, is far more common among patients with periodontal disease.