Most people learn early that regular brushing and flossing can help prevent tooth decay.

But many people don't know that good oral health is essential to maintaining the whole person's health, especially for those with certain medical conditions.

"During a routine checkup, a dentist waterloo can often spot the first signs of underlying conditions like diabetes or leukaemia," says Dr Cary Sun, Dental Director at Cigna. Requirements or heart disease. "Regular treatment is important for these patients to help them cope with the necessary dental care and prevent serious infections that can affect their overall health."

Improving people's overall health has become a major goal of healthcare. For example, mental illness has increased the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Poor oral health can worsen these and other conditions, such as lupus and arthritis common form. In addition to improving overall health, routine preventive dental care can also reduce overall healthcare costs. Recently Cigna study found that, on average, people who receive regular preventive dental care can reduce their total medical costs by about 4.4% per year. For people with diabetes, the savings are even greater – an average of 12.25% per year.

 The following medical conditions are known to be linked to oral health, so patients with these conditions must visit their dentist regularly to receive the oral care they need.

Diabetes

If diabetes is not well controlled, it can lead to periodontal disease, an infection of the gums and bones that hold teeth in place, which can cause pain, tooth loss, and bad breath. Diabetes also increases the sugar in saliva, which can lead to thrush. This fungal infection causes painful patches of white colour in the mouth.

Heart disease Stroke

Research has shown that people with poor oral health have higher heart disease and stroke rates. According to some researchers, bacteria that cause gingivitis and periodontitis can travel through the bloodstream. Causing damage and inflammation to blood vessels in the heart and brain. If fatty deposits block blood vessels leading to the heart, they can cause a severe heart attack. If they reach out to the brain and cut off the blood supply, they can cause a stroke.

Kidney disease

Suppose a patient's immune system is weakened by kidney disease. In that case, they may be more susceptible to infections from severe gum disease. Tooth decay and gum disease cause pain, difficulty eating, and bad breath. They can also cause chronic inflammation, contributing to other medical conditions like heart disease. In addition, oral infections can delay kidney transplantation, so good oral hygiene is essential.

Organ transplant

Dental care is an important part of any organ transplant. Before the procedure, dentist kitchener want to ensure that the patient does not have an infection or untreated dental problems that could complicate the procedure. Anti-rejection drugs can then prevent the patient from fighting the bacteria and preventing infection.

 Head and Neck Cancer Radiation

 Dental care is also essential for patients receiving radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. Radiation therapy can cause mouth ulcers, damage the patient's salivary glands, and cause dry mouth. As a result, some patients experience a loss of taste, while others struggle with jaw stiffness and loss of tissue and bone.

Sjogren’s Syndrome

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease that causes dry eyes and mouth. Many patients develop the disease as a complication of another autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid lupus or arthritis. People with Sjögren's syndrome may find it difficult to chew certain foods, and brushing their teeth may be uncomfortable. This condition can also lead to thrush.

Rheumatoid arthritis

The link between oral health and rheumatoid arthritis goes back centuries - Hippocrates suggested tooth extraction to cure arthritis. However, researchers believe that the inflammatory bacteria in oral disease may cause rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, stiffness and pain can cause jaw pain and make it harder for people with arthritis to floss and brush.

Lupus

Patients with lupus struggle with severe gum disease, chronic ulcers, and sores on the lips, tongue, and mouth. Autoimmune diseases also attack the glands that produce saliva. Some medications used to treat this condition can cause dry mouth.

Parkinson disease

Parkinson's disease, a progressive nervous system disorder, can cause stiffness in the jaw muscles, making it difficult to swallow and chew. This can increase the chance of choking and cause saliva to build up in the mouth, leading to infection. People with Parkinson's disease are also more likely to have bacteria associated with severe gum disease, which can enter the bloodstream.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, weakens muscles and affects physical function, making brushing and flossing difficult. Additionally, the accumulation of saliva in the mouth can cause bacteria and plaque to build up, leading to tooth decay, gum disease, and pneumonia.

Huntington's disease

Huntington's disease causes the gradual breakdown of nerve cells in the brain, affecting the functioning of the arms and hands. Patients with the disease showed significantly more caries than those without the disease. They can also clench and grind their teeth, leading to pain, broken teeth, headaches, and TMJ disorders.

Opioid Misuse and Addiction

Adolescents and young adults are at higher risk of developing opiate addiction. Dentists can be the main source of first-time exposure, especially after wisdom tooth extraction. At Cigna, we've worked with dentists to help reduce opioid prescriptions and initiated limits on opioid prescriptions to a three-day supply for patients undergoing procedures. Dental art. Opioid abuse can cause dry mouth, leading to mouth sores, tooth decay and gum disease. Combined with increased sugar consumption, dry mouth can cause even more damage to teeth. Opioids can also cause acid reflux, damaging tooth enamel and gum tissue.

Pregnancy

The hormonal changes of a pregnant woman can cause gingivitis. According to the CDC, one in four women of childbearing age has untreated tooth decay, and the children of mothers with high levels of untreated caries are at twice the risk of developing tooth decay three times.

Preventive care is essential.

In many cases, regular dental care can help alleviate many of the dental side effects of these conditions. Therefore, it is important that patients brush and floss their teeth daily, keep their dentist informed of their condition, and schedule regular checkups.