According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tooth decay and periodontal disease are the two most common oral diseases. Many of the pathogens that cause them are removed by brushing, but they can have negative health consequences when they remain in the mouth.
Several groups of bacteria participate in the development of caries and periodontal disease. Scientific studies have found 600 different species in the oral cavity.
Oral diseases can cause diabetes, endocarditis, and more
Dental caries can cause high blood pressure and heart infections
The bacteria present in the teeth use the remains of food as fuel to make acids which affect the hardest layer of the teeth, causing dental caries.
Dental cavities are tiny holes in the teeth through which bacteria can gain access to the innermost part of the tooth, where nerves and blood vessels are located. There, microbes can cause low-level infections as they form plaques that accumulate inside the arteries.
This can lead to atherosclerosis, that is, hardening of the arteries, says an article published on the specialized site The Conversation.
The researchers suggest that these bacteria activate the system responsible for regulating blood pressure, leading to primary hypertension.
The Streptococcus mutans bacterium, which causes dental caries, can also cause infective endocarditis, which is an infection of the heart tissue.
Swollen gums can cause diabetes
According to the publication, periodontitis, or inflammation of the gums caused by bacteria present in plaque, can lead to diabetes.
When oral hygiene is poor and plaque is not removed by brushing, bacteria increase in number and allow other, more harmful types of microbes to take over.
These agents destroy the tissues that support the teeth and eventually enter the bloodstream where they release toxins and cause non-oral diseases.
It is believed that gingivitis can disrupt normal blood sugar levels. In fact, some experiments in people with type 2 diabetes have shown that glucose levels return to normal after brushing.
Other systemic diseases that have been associated with periodontal disease are heart disease, respiratory tract infections, and pneumonia.
It is suspected that there is a link between oral bacteria and Alzheimer’s disease. However, this is still not entirely clear. Therefore, it is best to visit the dentist regularly and attend to oral diseases at an early stage.
