Link between oral hygiene and your overall health

The month of May is Save Your Tooth Month. But when it comes to going to the dentist, many people see it as a hassle. However, oral hygiene does have an impact on your body. 

“Maintaining those teeth, maintaining your oral hygiene, just to prevent for you and any patient to not have cavities, infections, nor even periodontal diseases,” said Dr. Jonathan Santiago-Rodriguez, a dentist at Mohawk Valley’s Dental Residency Program.

Dr. Santiago-Rodriguez says periodontal disease, a common inflammatory condition that affects the gums and the bones supporting the teeth, can cause health problems. 

“Periodontitis is very linked to cardiovascular diseases and due to an increase in infections and bacteria in our mouth, it can also be related to what we are seeing as in Alzheimer’s,” Dr. Santiago-Rodriguez said. 

Multiple studies have found a link between periodontal disease and Alzheimer’s and dementia. And that research continues.

Dr. Santiago-Rodriguez also reminds us that poor dental hygiene leads to losing your teeth. 

“It’s not going to be good as nutrition, as basic as that. People cannot eat properly so when they do not eat properly, they’re going to have G.I. conditions, just like malnutrition,”  Dr. Santiago-Rodriguez said. 

“Almost 40% of patients don’t go to the dentist unless they’re in pain. In addition to that, about 60% of patients don’t floss their teeth,” said Dr. Steven Katz, president of the America Association of Endodontists.

Dr. Katz says many people don’t go to the dentists simply because they are afraid.

“The reality is, is that dental work can be pain-free. Especially even root canal therapy, we manage to use special techniques and technologies. We have new anesthetics that make it no different than having your teeth cleaned or smaller filling,” said Dr. Katz. 

It’s changing our perception of the dentist as well, Dr. Santiago-Rodriguez says it starts in our childhood. 

“We start with a simple, regular check-up without doing anything. In my cases, what I would do is just start with the smallest cavities or start with things that are not that aggressive in the child. So they start linking, hey, the dentist is not bad,” Dr. Santiago-Rodriguez said.