The oral cavity is the gateway to the rest of the body. Air, water and food are all taken in through the mouth so it is fairly obvious that the mouth is going to have an affect on the rest of your body. In fact, the mouth can act as an indicator for overall bodily health as many medical conditions manifest symptoms in the mouth. In a similar way, oral conditions can have an affect on the rest of the body.
One of the most significant ways this can happen is through the recently discovered link that gum disease is closely related to heart disease. Gum disease is caused by the irritation and infection of gum tissue from acids caused by plaque in the mouth. Most gum tissue is mild and can be easily treated with improved hygiene and minor dental treatment. But more serious cases of gum disease can lead to infections that can easily enter the bloodstream. These then travel the short distance to the heart from the mouth and clog up blood vessels, putting strain on the heart.
The same is true of dental infections caused by cavities. When the dental nerve is under attack from infection the body will respond by producing an excess of white blood cells and antibodies to fight it. These can accumulate in tissue around the mouth causing painful and often unstable abscesses, which are prone to bursting. This spreads infection not only around the mouth but also into the bloodstream with similar results as before.
There are countless indicators in the oral cavity that provide clues about or affect the overall health of our body. This is why it is important to keep up your regular six-month check ups with a City of Leeds dentist as they are rained to spot the first signs of any health problems in the mouth.
Tags: dental infections, gum disease, oral cavity
