Staying healthy (23)
- Vaccines for adults: Which do you need?
- Medical history: Compiling your medical family tree
- Hand-washing: Do's and don'ts
- see all in Staying healthy
Dental care (7)
- Oral health: A window to your overall health
- Oral health: Brush up on dental care basics
- Calcium and calcium supplements: Achieving the right balance
- see all in Dental care
Skin care (15)
- Sunless tanning: A safe alternative to sunbathing
- Tattoos: Understand risks and precautions
- Piercings: How to prevent complications
- see all in Skin care
Nail care (1)
- Fingernails: Do's and don'ts for healthy nails
Eye care (9)
- Contact lenses: What to know before you buy
- Eye injury: Tips to protect vision
- Eye exam
- see all in Eye care
Sleep (7)
- Sleep aids: Understand over-the-counter options
- Sleep tips: 7 steps to better sleep
- Napping: Do's and don'ts for healthy adults
- see all in Sleep
Mental health (10)
- Mental health: What's normal, what's not
- Anger management: 10 tips to tame your temper
- Denial: When it helps, when it hurts
- see all in Mental health
Healthy relationships (9)
- Infidelity: Mending your marriage after an affair
- Domestic violence against men: Know the signs
- Domestic violence against women: Recognize patterns, seek help
- see all in Healthy relationships
Healthy at work (12)
- Workplace exercises: How to burn calories at work
- Desk stretches: How-to video collection
- Travel workout: Fitness tips for business travelers
- see all in Healthy at work
close window
Housecall Archives
About our e-newsletters
- Free e-newsletters
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- We do not share your e-mail address
Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
Housecall Archives
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
continued:
Oral health: A window to your overall health
What conditions may be linked to oral health?
Your oral health may affect, be affected by or contribute to various diseases and conditions, including:
- Endocarditis. Gum disease and dental procedures that cut your gums may allow bacteria to enter your bloodstream. If you have a weak immune system or a damaged heart valve, this can cause infection in other parts of the body — such as an infection of the inner lining of the heart (endocarditis).
- Cardiovascular disease. Some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke may be linked to oral bacteria, possibly due to chronic inflammation from periodontitis — a severe form of gum disease.
- Pregnancy and birth. Gum disease has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
- Diabetes. Diabetes reduces the body's resistance to infection — putting the gums at risk. In addition, people who have inadequate blood sugar control may develop more-frequent and severe infections of the gums and the bone that holds teeth in place, and they may lose more teeth than do people who have good blood sugar control.
- HIV/AIDS. Oral problems, such as painful mucosal lesions, are common in people who have HIV/AIDS.
- Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis — which causes bones to become weak and brittle — may be associated with periodontal bone loss and tooth loss.
- Alzheimer's disease. Tooth loss before age 35 may be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.
- Other conditions. Other conditions that may be linked to oral health include Sjogren's syndrome — an immune system disorder — and eating disorders.
Be sure to tell your dentist if you're taking any medications or have had any changes in your overall health — especially if you've had any recent illnesses or you have a chronic condition.
How can I protect my oral health?
To protect your oral health, resolve to practice good oral hygiene every day. For example:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
- Replace your toothbrush every three to four months.
- Floss daily.
- Eat a healthy diet and limit between-meal snacks.
- Schedule regular dental checkups.
Also, watch for signs and symptoms of oral disease and contact your dentist as soon as a problem arises. Remember, taking care of your oral health is an investment in your overall health.
Previous page(2 of 2)
References
- Oral-systemic health, medications. American Dental Association. http://www.ada.org/4081.aspx?currentTab=2. Accessed Nov. 15, 2010.
- Diabetes and oral health. American Dental Association. http://www.ada.org/sections/publicResources/pdfs/patient_18.pdf. Accessed Nov. 15, 2010.
- Pregnant? Tips for keeping your smile healthy. American Dental Association. http://www.ada.org/sections/publicResources/pdfs/patient_34.pdf. Accessed Nov. 15, 2010.
- Krall KE. Bone health and oral health. The Journal of the American Dental Association. 2007;138:616.
- American Dental Association. Healthy mouth, healthy body. Journal of the American Dental Association. 2006;137:563.
- Michalowicz BS, et al. Treatment of periodontal disease and the risk of preterm birth. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2006;355:1885.
- Loesche W. Dental caries and periodontitis: Contrasting two infections that have medical implications. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America. 2007;21:471.
- Links between oral and general health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/OralHealth/publications/factsheets/sgr2000_fs4.htm. Accessed Nov. 15, 2010.
- Casamassimo PS. Oral and systemic health. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 15, 2010.
- Wilder RS, et al. Gingivitis and periodontitis in adults: Classification and dental treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 15, 2010.
- Gatz M, et al. Potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia in identical twins. Alzheimer's & Dementia. 2006;2:110.
- Endocarditis. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/endo/endo_all.html. Accessed Nov. 16, 2010.
- Anorexia nervosa (eating disorders). American Dental Association. http://www.ada.org/3104.aspx?currentTab=1. Accessed Nov. 16, 2010.
- Sjogren's syndrome: Questions and answers about Sjogren's syndrome. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Sjogrens_Syndrome/default.asp#drymouth. Accessed Nov. 16, 2010.
Find Mayo Clinic on