Tooth loss can be difficult to deal with. It does not matter the cause. Patients can lose teeth in many different ways either by their own negligence with regard to his or her dental hygiene, or trauma or by disease. What some people fail to realize is that the health of their mouths can actually impact the health of their bodies. They are interlinked, one affecting the other.
PERIODONTAL DISEASE CONCERNS
While many people have heard about gum disease, many do not realize just how important it is to get this disease managed by our dentist. This multi-stage disease can only be cured in the first stage when it is known as gingivitis. Once it progresses to the moderate and advanced stages and unfortunately the patient will have to live with it for the remainder of their lives.
In the advanced stages of the disease, decay can decimate the oral cavity. Widespread tooth loss can occur leaving open sockets full of disease and decay. Without the opposing force of the opposite teeth with every bite, the jawbone can weaken and succumb to the disease. Without the strong supportive structure, the remaining teeth will grow weaker and looser eventually falling out.
The infection will continue to spread, eating away at the bone of the upper and lower jaw. Due to gums having blood so close to the surface it is very easy for this infection to enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body. There is also concern that infections from the oral cavity can infect the lymph nodes which are located directly beneath the lower jaw. Once there, they can compromise the lymphatic system and spread throughout the body.
Infections from the mouth have been known to cause respiratory problems, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes. That is why at your appointment at our offices we will always let our patients know how imperative it is to provide proper oral care by brushing and flossing daily in order to maintain a high level of oral cavity health.