The Mouth Body Connection

Oral Health and Other Health Conditions

The Mouth Body Connection

Your mouth is teeming with bacteria, about 6 billion bacteria are present in the healthy human mouth. Normally these bacteria are kept under control with good dental hygiene like brushing and flossing. Your mouth also has its own in-built defence system, saliva. Saliva contains enzymes that destroy bacteria and even viruses but there are times when harmful bacteria grow out of control and lead to gum disease or periodontitis which is a serious gum infection.

If your gums are healthy then bacteria from your mouth usually cannot enter your bloodstream. However, gum disease provides a port of entry for bacteria to travel into your body via the blood. Any medications or treatments that reduce saliva flow or disrupt the balance of mouth bacteria can also lead to changes in your mouth that will make it easier for bacteria to pass into the rest of your body.

Research has shown that these bacteria and inflammation from your mouth are linked to health problems in other areas of your body.

Cardiovascular and Heart Disease - several types of heart problems are linked to oral health, such as heart disease, clogged arteries, stoke and heart infections like endocarditis. This is due to bacteria from your mouth traveling to your heart and also because gum disease increases inflammation and the amount of C Reactive protein (CRP) in your body. Inflammation and its marker CRP are now been shown as causative factors for cardiovascular disease.