When analyzing one’s overall health, medical experts often have to look at things like blood cultures, body scans, and similar. Doing so helps them gain an insight into the patient’s status by providing a detailed breakdown of everything that is happening internally. So, if someone appears to have an infection, per se, their white blood count will be up as their immune system fights back. Signs like this can help doctors diagnose people early on and reduce the risk of tragic outcomes.
While the approach of thorough analysis is incredibly advantageous, it is not the only way to figure out where someone stands. On the contrary, there are many shortcuts to gauging the patient’s overall health without drawing their blood or doing extensive physical exams. The most common one revolves around their oral state. In other words, mouth health could be a quick solution to getting leads on certain conditions. So, what exactly does oral health say about peoples’ overall health?
Conditions That Showcase in the Mouth
Since a lot of diseases affect various areas of the body, it is not uncommon to see the mouth be affected. Great examples of this would be endocarditis, cardiovascular problems, pneumonia, pregnancy complications, diabetes, HIV, and more. To better understand where the connection lies, consider the following:
– Cardiovascular diseases have been affecting the human population since the beginning of time. In fact, it is almost impossible to find a household that has not had experience with cardiovascular issues. Well, research shows that patients who have these problems tend to also suffer from very specific inflammations. Those inflammations, expectedly, are caused by bacteria that only exists within someone’s mouth. So, starting to see infections that are caused by oral bacteria could be an early sign of cardiovascular problems.
– Diabetes has a two-way connection with oral health. According to a specialized company that works with dental patients, Janet L French DDS, Family Dentistry, these diseases frequently lead to gum issues. Interestingly enough, however, gum disease is also linked to difficulty with controlling blood sugar levels. So, the connection goes both ways and simply clarifies that any onset of gum disease could be an indication of a potential case of diabetes.
Importance of Saliva
Another very important way in which someone’s oral health can help gauge their status is by testing the content of their mouth. In translation, analyzing their saliva will show everything from cortisol levels to bone proteins. Based on those inputs, doctors will be able to derive accurate diagnoses that can jump-start the treatment process.
Not to forget, saliva testing can also show someone’s drug use, exposure to environmental toxins, antibodies that show infections like HIV, numerous hormones, and so on. Thus, a single swab of the patient’s mouth could provide enough evidence to perfectly analyze their lifestyle.
Promotes Good Habits
People who fail to take good care of their oral hygiene are risking letting their mouth get infected with bacteria. This can lead to problems that cannot be resolved without urgent care. So, frequently washing the mouth is the best course of action and will promote very good habits.
For instance, when someone is on top of their hygiene, their teeth will show no signs of any conditions and they will generally be very white and healthy looking. As a consequence, the person in question will have no mental barriers to show their beautiful teeth. This may help lead others to repair their own smiles and minimize the risk of infections.
So, high-level dental care that is defined by proper brushing and flossing will certainly help one appear much better while allowing them to maintain their confidence. Not to mention the fact that healthy teeth make it easier to chew almost any type of food.
Potential Lack of Knowledge
One of the last things that poor dental health normally says about a person is a lack of knowledge. In translation, the patient may simply not know how to keep their mouth clean. The problem here, however, is that there are not a lot of ways to learn how to maintain proper dental health on your own. Instead, according to the experts from Janet L French DDS, Family Dentistry, people will have to reach out to a trained professional to make inquiries.
Based on all of the previous, it seems quite obvious that solid oral health could indicate that someone’s overall health is fine. Naturally, however, patients should always visit a dentist to get professional feedback on their circumstances. Doing so reduces the chance that something will be overlooked and that an actual condition might be hiding somewhere else.