6 Health Problems Which Can Be Caused by Untreated Teeth

October 16, 2019, Dentistry

They may even impair your memory and significantly lower the quality of life. Therefore, regular and proper mouth care is the best prevention of any disease. Below is the list of health problems that can be triggered by untreated teeth.

1. Heart Attack

Untreated teeth can cause coronary heart disease and heart attack. The presence of chronic periodontitis increases the risk of heart failure by about two times. Bacteria that multiply in the periodontium enter the circulatory system and cause inflammation of blood vessels. This contributes to the formation of blood clots which ultimately leads to acute heart disease. This might happen in the long absence of high-quality dental treatment.

2. Stomach Disorders

The presence of mouth inflammation, damaged or missing teeth often leads to improper chewing of food which negatively affects the digestive system and can cause chronic gastritis, pancreatitis or stomach ulcers. Dental problems also provoke active reproduction of bacteria which enter directly into the stomach and intestines.

3. Kidney Disease

Dental problems caused by streptococci can lead to certain kidney diseases such as pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, and others.

According to various studies, patients with chronic kidney inflammation in 85–90% of cases suffer from caries. In addition, kidney pathologies also cause various forms of gingivitis.

Moreover, the longer a person suffers from chronic pyelonephritis, the more pronounced the changes in the gum tissue will be. Symptoms of pyelonephritis include a lack of color of mucous surfaces, cracks in the corners of the mouth, and dry scaly patches on the border of the lips. In the case of glomerulonephritis, the lips become dry and the mucous membrane of the oral cavity swells.

4. Tonsillitis

Harmful bacteria can trigger tonsillitis. Severe tonsillitis may even lead to sepsis (blood poisoning), rheumatism, kidney disease, and impaired heart function. That's why it’s important to take antibiotics, they will help cope with the infection. It’s equally important to regularly visit a family dentist in order to prevent serious dental problems.

5. Skin Problems

Gum disease and pulpitis negatively affect the skin. Bacteria enters the bloodstream and gastrointestinal tract and causes corresponding pathological processes. Gastrointestinal problems always affect the epidermis and are characterized by the appearance of acne.

6. Impaired Memory

Japanese scientists made a startling discovery. They determined that the more teeth that are lost, the worse the memory of a person will be. An experiment on four thousand people over 65 confirmed a direct correlation between infections that contribute to tooth loss and inflammation catalysts in the brain. Neurons die and memory deteriorates due to the influence of infections. At the same time, mood swings and unmotivated irritability can also occur.

In addition, scientists are trying to prove that Alzheimer's disease is provoked by the same bacterium as gum disease. While there is no direct evidence for this and these are only assumptions, researchers say that evidence is just around the corner.

The health of the teeth and gums affects the human body. You can’t be healthy and have bad teeth, caries or periodontitis. Therefore, don’t waste time and visit the dentist as soon as possible if you have any oral problems.

Comments