It is often said that your oral health can be seen as a window into your overall health. This means that oral health problems can either be an indicator of more serious underlying issues, or can even be the cause of problems in the rest of the body. Here are some of the ways in which a man’s oral hygiene can affect the rest of his health.
Respiratory Infections
Dentists warn that gum disease can lead to problems for the respiratory system, especially in the lungs. Pneumonia is a common respiratory problem that can result from gum disease. Very few men are wary of this because it doesn’t seem like these two systems of the body would be connected. However, if you are constantly breathing air through a mouth with infected teeth or gums, it does get down into your lungs.
Heart Disease
Gum disease is often associated with cardiovascular problems including strokes, and blood vessel blockage. Men are more likely than women to have heart-related health problems, and are consequently on more medication for these issues. Most heart medications have a side effect of dry mouth, which makes a mouth more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. This is because saliva is necessary for fighting bacteria in the mouth. This is one of the reasons men are more likely to have oral health issues.
Brain Health
In many studies adults with gingivitis perform worse on memory and other cognitive skills test than their counterparts with healthy gums. This could be because the bacteria in mouths affected by gingivitis can be transferred to the brain via nerve channels in the area. Memory loss already affects men at higher rates than women, so they need to pay extra attention to how dental hygiene affects this.
Issues for Diabetic People
Diabetic people with gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar than those with healthy gums. They are also more susceptible to getting gum disease in the first place. An orthodontist in San Angelo know that men get diabetes at higher rates than women so they need to pay extra attention to their oral health. In order to stay on top of gum disease before it’s developed, regular trips to the dentist are absolutely crucial. A simple checkup can prevent major problems.
Men report going to dental checkups with less frequency than women. Changing these bad habits could mean improving oral health and general health drastically.