Oral Health

Most of us think of problems with the mouth in terms of cavities, toothaches and broken or crooked teeth. Obviously, lacking healthy teeth can have an effect on how we look, but it is now known that there are more direct links between the health of the mouth and the health of the body.

For instance, people with gum disease (chronic adult periodontitis) are at increased risk for cardiovascular (heart) disease. We also know that pregnant women with gum disease problems are significantly more likely to have premature babies of low-birth weight. This may result from the transfer of bacterial microbes in the mother’s mouth to the baby during the third trimester of pregnancy. The microbes can reach the baby through the placenta (a temporary organ joining the mother and fetus which supplies the fetus with blood and nutrients), through the amniotic fluid (fluid around the fetus), and through the layer of tissues in the mother’s stomach.

Finally, many serious systemic diseases reveal their early signs and symptoms in the mouth. This is why it is important to have a complete periodic oral examination and do everything you can to keep your mouth healthy.