Did you know that your oral health offers clues about your overall health — or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body? Protect yourself by learning more about the connection between your oral health and overall health.

What's the connection between oral health and overall health?

Like other areas of the body, your mouth teems with bacteria — mostly harmless. But your mouth is the entry point to your digestive and respiratory tracts, and some of these bacteria can cause disease. Normally the body's natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, keep bacteria under control. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. 

Also, certain medications — such as decongestants, antihistamines, painkillers, diuretics, and antidepressants — can reduce saliva flow. Saliva washes away food and neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth, helping to protect you from microbes that multiply and lead to disease. Studies suggest that oral bacteria and the inflammation associated with a severe form of gum disease (periodontitis) might play a role in some diseases. And certain diseases, such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS, can lower the body's resistance to infection, making oral health problems more severe.

What conditions can be linked to oral health?

Your oral health might contribute to various diseases and conditions, including:

• Endocarditis. This infection of the inner lining of your heart chambers or valves (endocardium) typically occurs when bacteria or other germs from another part of your body, such as your mouth, spread through your bloodstream and attach to certain areas in your heart.
• Pregnancy and birth complications. Periodontitis has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
• Pneumonia. Certain bacteria in your mouth can be pulled into your lungs, causing pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.

Certain conditions also might affect your oral health, including:

• Diabetes. By reducing the body's resistance to infection, diabetes puts your gums at risk. Gum disease appears to be more frequent and severe among people who have diabetes, Research shows that people who have gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels. Regular periodontal care can improve diabetes control.

• HIV/AIDS. Oral problems, such as painful mucosal lesions, are common in people who have HIV/AIDS.

• Osteoporosis. This bone-weakening disease is linked with periodontal bone loss and tooth loss. Certain drugs used to treat osteoporosis carry a small risk of damage to the bones of the jaw.

What Can Adults Do to Maintain Good Oral Health?

You can keep your teeth for your lifetime. Here are some things you can do to maintain a healthy mouth and strong teeth.

• Drink fluoridated water and brush with fluoride toothpaste.
• Practice good oral hygiene. Brush teeth thoroughly twice a day and floss daily between the teeth to remove dental plaque.
• Visit your dentist at least once a year, even if you have no natural teeth or have dentures.
• Do not use any tobacco products. If you smoke, quit.
• Limit alcoholic drinks.
• If you have diabetes, work to maintain control of the disease. This will decrease the risk for other complications, including gum disease. Treating gum disease may help lower your blood sugar level.
• If your medication causes dry mouth, ask your doctor for a different medication that may not cause this condition. If dry mouth cannot be avoided, drink plenty of water, chew sugarless gum, and avoid tobacco products and alcohol.
• See your doctor or a dentist if you have sudden changes in taste and smell.
• When acting as a caregiver, help older individuals brush and floss their teeth if they are not able to perform these activities independently.
• Prevention and treatment of oral problems such as canker sores: In today's era, drugs related to thrush have undergone several evolutions related to their type, and among them for the Update on Alternative Topical Medicines for Oral Ulcers currently, there is a sprue plaster that has much better adhesion and Comfortable material for plaster, so that it can stick for longer and provides optimal protection to cover canker sores and heal effectively. natural will happen much better. The product introduced is Curatick™ Oral Wound Dressing plaster with a diameter of 12 mm, packaged individually and each box contains 10 pieces of plaster. Curatick™ Oral Wound Dressing is a plaster that is comfortable to use because its working principle is to form a gel when it is applied and in contact with the wound and also has a light mint sensation that refreshes the mouth and reduces halitosis (bad breath) that occurs due to canker sores, the sucrose content in the Curatick plaster also adds a sensation thin and safe for diabetics, so this product is comfortable to use. Because this product does not contain medicinal ingredients, it can be used according to the needs of each user. 

Reference:

1. CDC (2022).Oral Health Tips
2. Insert Pack Curatick™ Oral Wound Dressing
3. Mayo Clinic (2022).  Healthy Adult Health