Man sits in dental chair and discusses the effects of poor oral health with dentist

How Can Poor Oral Health Make You Sick?

Dental hygiene can be largely important for your overall health. Having good oral hygiene ensures that you’re cleaning away any bacteria that could harm your teeth or mouth. And clearing that away can help ensure that you don’t run into bad dental problems. 

But what problems can you run into if you’re not staying on top of good hygiene? Here’s a short guide on potential health problems you may run into if you have poor oral health.

What Health Issues Can Occur with Bad Dental Hygiene?

Many people understand that having a poor dental routine that lacks proper brushing or flossing can harm their teeth. It can lead to common problems such as cavities, tooth decay, or periodontal disease (gum disease). 

However, there are many problems that people run into when they don’t properly keep up with good dental hygiene. The bacteria could cause major changes in your health and lead to issues that could’ve been prevented. Some problems caused by bad dental hygiene can include: 

  • Cardiovascular Issues: There’s an increased risk of bacterial infection in the bloodstream that leads to cardiovascular issues. 
  • Cancer: People with poor oral health are at a 56% higher risk of developing oral HPV, leading to cancer.
  • Infertility: Both men and women can have infertility problems associated with poor oral hygiene routines. 
  • Respiratory Issues: It’s common to have respiratory issues with poor oral health as bacteria grow in the mouth, travel into the lungs, and harm them. 
  • Arthritis: People with rheumatoid arthritis are at a higher risk of tooth decay and oral infections because of inflammatory disease and poor oral health. 
  • Dementia: A recent study showed that many people diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease had gum disease before the diagnosis. 

Having good oral hygiene can help prevent further health issues and help you keep a beautiful smile. 

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