Your Mouth Has a Lot to Say About Your Overall Health

The benefits of good dental hygiene go beyond bright smiles. Making sure you’re brushing properly, flossing daily, and keeping up with dental appointments preserves your overall health.

Dental problems such asgum diseaseandtooth decaycan contribute to a number of health conditions, includingheart diseaseandpneumonia.

This article provides a quick overview of the conditions associated with poor oral health, those that can make your dental health worse, as well as what you can do to maintain your smile.

What Conditions Are Linked to Poor Oral Hygiene?

Increasingly, researchers are finding significant connections between your overall health and dental health. Poor oral hygiene has been directly linked to pneumonia, a range of serious heart problems, as well as complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

Heart Disease

Over the last several years, a growing body of evidence has linked dental issues, especially missing teeth andperiodontitis(advanced gum disease), with heart disease and other cardiac issues.These cardiac and blood circulation problems include:

People with poor oral health have increased rates of heart attack and stroke, among other cardiac issues. While oral problems may not directly cause cardiac conditions, they may contribute to problems with the heart and are related. More research is needed, though, to understand why there is this connection.

Endocarditis

Poor oral hygiene is also a risk factor forendocarditis, an infection of the tissues of the heart. Bacteria in the mouth due to the gum diseases gingivitis and periodontitis can enter the bloodstream and cause a potentially life-threatening inflammation of theendocardium(the tissues in the inner lining of the heart’s chambers and valves).

Pregnancy and Birth Complications

Complications during pregnancy and birth can also arise due to poor oral hygiene and health. Additionally,being pregnantmakes you more likely to develop gingivitis, periodontitis, loose teeth, or tooth decay due to hormone fluctuations. Problems in the mouth have been linked to a range of such issues, including:

Pneumonia

Pneumoniais a lung infection that ranges in severity and can become life-threatening.

A 2020 study of pneumonia patients in South Korea found missing teeth, having cavities, and poor oral hygiene to be closely linked to this condition.This is because bacteria in the mouth can enter the bloodstream and infect the lungs, leading to symptoms of pneumonia.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Though the exact nature of the relationship is unknown, associations have also been found between gum disease andrheumatoid arthritis(RA). Thisautoimmune diseasedamages the joints, causing pain and inflammation. Certain bacteria in the mouth, especiallyPorphyromonas gingivalis, have been found in arthritic joints, indicating an association.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Studies have linked gingivitis andAlzheimer’s disease, a progressive form of dementia that causes a degeneration of nerve cells in the brain. Researchers have found that thePorphyromonas gingivalisbacteria can travel from the gums to the brain, where they emit enzymes that damage neurons.

Alzheimer’s and Dental CarePeople with Alzheimer’s disease may need assistance taking care of their teeth. Caregivers or family members may need to help people with Alzheimer’s brush and floss regularly.

Alzheimer’s and Dental Care

People with Alzheimer’s disease may need assistance taking care of their teeth. Caregivers or family members may need to help people with Alzheimer’s brush and floss regularly.

What Conditions Can Worsen Oral Health?

Diabetes

Diabetes arises when there are problems converting sugars (glucose) into energy, leading to very high blood sugar levels. There are several different types of diabetes, of whichtype 2 diabetesis the most common.

Diabetes causes excessive urination, sudden weight loss, fatigue, and other symptoms and is associated with periodontal disease. Gum disease can cause tooth loss and other problems.

HIV/AIDS

Living withhuman immunodeficiency virus(HIV), which can lead to AIDS, can significantly impact oral health. With HIV, a range of oral and dental issues can arise, including:

Immune Health and Dental HealthPeople with HIV are more vulnerable to dental and oral problems because the virus attacks and weakens the immune system. As a result, it’s tougher for the body to fight off bacteria in the mouth.

Immune Health and Dental Health

People with HIV are more vulnerable to dental and oral problems because the virus attacks and weakens the immune system. As a result, it’s tougher for the body to fight off bacteria in the mouth.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosisis another condition that can cause significant damage to teeth and gums. It affects bone health and density and can cause bone loss, which can affect the jawbone, causing teeth to loosen or fall out. Weakened bones in the jaw can also cause problems with dental appliances likebridgesanddentures.

Osteoporosis is also associated with periodontitis.Though the exact connection isn’t clear, the weakening of the underlying bone may make the gums and teeth more susceptible to bacterial infection.

How to Maintain Oral Health

Good oral hygiene includes the following:

Summary

Dental issues, especially tooth loss and gum disease, have been linked to heart disease, endocarditis, and complications during pregnancy and birth, among other conditions.Furthermore, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and osteoporosis can worsen oral health. Practicing good oral hygiene and getting regular dental checkups are important for maintaining your overall health.

A Word From Verywell

There’s a close relationship between the health of your teeth and that of the rest of your body. Developing good dental hygiene habits and keeping up with dental appointments are part of broader self-care practices. If you’re concerned about your teeth or are due for a checkup, be sure to call your dentist.

Facts You Should Know About Your Oral Health

12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Oral health: healthy people 2020.Batty G, Jung K, Mok Y et al.Oral health and later coronary heart disease: cohort study of one million people.Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2018;25(6):598-605. doi:10.1177/2047487318759112Harvard Health.Gum disease and the connection to heart disease.Bumm C, Folwaczny M.Infective endocarditis and oral health: A narrative review.Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2021;11(6):1403-1415. doi:10.21037/cdt-20-908Yenen Z, Ataçağ T.Oral care in pregnancy.J Tur Ger Gynecol Assoc. 2019;20(4):264-268. doi:10.4274/jtgga.galenos.2018.2018.0139Son M, Jo S, Lee J, Lee D.Association between oral health and incidence of pneumonia: a population-based cohort study from Korea.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-020-66312-2Kriauciunas A, Gleiznys A, Gleiznys D, Janužis G.The influence of Porphyromonas gingivalis bacterium causing periodontal disease on the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis: Systematic review of literature.Cureus. 2019;11(5):e4775. doi:10.7759/cureus.4775Beydoun M, Beydoun H, Hossain S, El-Hajj Z, Weiss J, Zonderman A.Clinical and bacterial markers of periodontitis and their association with incident all-cause and Alzheimer’s disease dementia in a large national survey.J Alzheimer’s Dis. 2020;75(1):157-172. doi:10.3233/jad-200064National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Diabetes and oral health.National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.HIV/AIDS & oral health.Yu B, Wang CY.Osteoporosis and periodontal diseases - An update on their association and mechanistic links.Periodontol 2000. 2022;89(1):99-113. doi:10.1111/prd.12422Centers for Disease Control.Oral health tips.Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control.Oral health tips.National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Diabetes & oral health.Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Oral health: healthy people 2020.

12 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Oral health: healthy people 2020.Batty G, Jung K, Mok Y et al.Oral health and later coronary heart disease: cohort study of one million people.Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2018;25(6):598-605. doi:10.1177/2047487318759112Harvard Health.Gum disease and the connection to heart disease.Bumm C, Folwaczny M.Infective endocarditis and oral health: A narrative review.Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2021;11(6):1403-1415. doi:10.21037/cdt-20-908Yenen Z, Ataçağ T.Oral care in pregnancy.J Tur Ger Gynecol Assoc. 2019;20(4):264-268. doi:10.4274/jtgga.galenos.2018.2018.0139Son M, Jo S, Lee J, Lee D.Association between oral health and incidence of pneumonia: a population-based cohort study from Korea.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-020-66312-2Kriauciunas A, Gleiznys A, Gleiznys D, Janužis G.The influence of Porphyromonas gingivalis bacterium causing periodontal disease on the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis: Systematic review of literature.Cureus. 2019;11(5):e4775. doi:10.7759/cureus.4775Beydoun M, Beydoun H, Hossain S, El-Hajj Z, Weiss J, Zonderman A.Clinical and bacterial markers of periodontitis and their association with incident all-cause and Alzheimer’s disease dementia in a large national survey.J Alzheimer’s Dis. 2020;75(1):157-172. doi:10.3233/jad-200064National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Diabetes and oral health.National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.HIV/AIDS & oral health.Yu B, Wang CY.Osteoporosis and periodontal diseases - An update on their association and mechanistic links.Periodontol 2000. 2022;89(1):99-113. doi:10.1111/prd.12422Centers for Disease Control.Oral health tips.Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control.Oral health tips.National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Diabetes & oral health.Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Oral health: healthy people 2020.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Oral health: healthy people 2020.Batty G, Jung K, Mok Y et al.Oral health and later coronary heart disease: cohort study of one million people.Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2018;25(6):598-605. doi:10.1177/2047487318759112Harvard Health.Gum disease and the connection to heart disease.Bumm C, Folwaczny M.Infective endocarditis and oral health: A narrative review.Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2021;11(6):1403-1415. doi:10.21037/cdt-20-908Yenen Z, Ataçağ T.Oral care in pregnancy.J Tur Ger Gynecol Assoc. 2019;20(4):264-268. doi:10.4274/jtgga.galenos.2018.2018.0139Son M, Jo S, Lee J, Lee D.Association between oral health and incidence of pneumonia: a population-based cohort study from Korea.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-020-66312-2Kriauciunas A, Gleiznys A, Gleiznys D, Janužis G.The influence of Porphyromonas gingivalis bacterium causing periodontal disease on the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis: Systematic review of literature.Cureus. 2019;11(5):e4775. doi:10.7759/cureus.4775Beydoun M, Beydoun H, Hossain S, El-Hajj Z, Weiss J, Zonderman A.Clinical and bacterial markers of periodontitis and their association with incident all-cause and Alzheimer’s disease dementia in a large national survey.J Alzheimer’s Dis. 2020;75(1):157-172. doi:10.3233/jad-200064National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Diabetes and oral health.National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.HIV/AIDS & oral health.Yu B, Wang CY.Osteoporosis and periodontal diseases - An update on their association and mechanistic links.Periodontol 2000. 2022;89(1):99-113. doi:10.1111/prd.12422Centers for Disease Control.Oral health tips.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Oral health: healthy people 2020.

Batty G, Jung K, Mok Y et al.Oral health and later coronary heart disease: cohort study of one million people.Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2018;25(6):598-605. doi:10.1177/2047487318759112

Harvard Health.Gum disease and the connection to heart disease.

Bumm C, Folwaczny M.Infective endocarditis and oral health: A narrative review.Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2021;11(6):1403-1415. doi:10.21037/cdt-20-908

Yenen Z, Ataçağ T.Oral care in pregnancy.J Tur Ger Gynecol Assoc. 2019;20(4):264-268. doi:10.4274/jtgga.galenos.2018.2018.0139

Son M, Jo S, Lee J, Lee D.Association between oral health and incidence of pneumonia: a population-based cohort study from Korea.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-020-66312-2

Kriauciunas A, Gleiznys A, Gleiznys D, Janužis G.The influence of Porphyromonas gingivalis bacterium causing periodontal disease on the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis: Systematic review of literature.Cureus. 2019;11(5):e4775. doi:10.7759/cureus.4775

Beydoun M, Beydoun H, Hossain S, El-Hajj Z, Weiss J, Zonderman A.Clinical and bacterial markers of periodontitis and their association with incident all-cause and Alzheimer’s disease dementia in a large national survey.J Alzheimer’s Dis. 2020;75(1):157-172. doi:10.3233/jad-200064

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Diabetes and oral health.

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.HIV/AIDS & oral health.

Yu B, Wang CY.Osteoporosis and periodontal diseases - An update on their association and mechanistic links.Periodontol 2000. 2022;89(1):99-113. doi:10.1111/prd.12422

Centers for Disease Control.Oral health tips.

Centers for Disease Control.Oral health tips.National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Diabetes & oral health.Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Oral health: healthy people 2020.

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.Diabetes & oral health.

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