Your dental health influences quite a lot more than just
your smile. How your teeth and gums look can influence your confidence; your
teeth’s alignment can affect how well your jaw and other facial structures
interact; and in many cases, the health of your teeth and oral tissues can play
a role in your overall wellbeing. In fact, according to a recent study, one of
the more significant connections between oral and systemic health involves the role regular dental care plays inreducing the risks of respiratory infections.
Connecting Oral and Systemic Health
Oral-systemic health, or the mouth-body connection, describes
the relationship between a health/unhealthy mouth and a healthy/unhealthy body.
The source of most dental health issues, like tooth decay and periodontal (gum)
disease, are the hundreds of types of bacteria that make up the plaque on your
teeth and gums. When these germs grow in number, they can invade your bloodstream
through infected oral tissues, or be inhaled into your respiratory tract, and
become a serious threat to your systemic health, as well.
Regular Dental Care vs. Respiratory Infections
Ina study published by the Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, researchers
determined that improved professional dental care significantly reduced
occurrences of respiratory infections among patients being cared for in ICU
(intensive care unit). Being unable to care for themselves, ICU patients are
typically at an increased risk of developing oral health issues, as well as
lower respiratory tract infections that begin with bacteria originating in the
oral cavity. However, after introducing routine dental care to a randomized
selection of ICU patients, Dr. Fernando Bellissimo-Rodrigues and his team noted
that participants who received dental care were up to 56% less likely to
develop a respiratory infection during their stay, compared to others.
ABOUT YOUR GRAND PRAIRIE DENTIST:
Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced
general, restorative, and family dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a
patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Pecan Tree Dental office,
and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs.
Whether you and your family are new or returning patients, you can schedule a
consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.
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