Every time you brush and floss, you’re doing more than just freshening your breath and maintaining a nice smile. Studies suggest that you might also be enhancing your overall health and potentially even extending your lifespan.
People often view dentistry as primarily a cosmetic field, says Anita Aminoshariae, a professor of endodontics at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. However, “the mouth is not isolated from the rest of the body,” she explains. On the contrary, research indicates that oral health is connected to various aspects of health, from heart health to lifespan, even if many people aren’t aware of it.
Oral health extends beyond the mouth
Researchers refer to this phenomenon as the “oral-systemic link,” and it has been a subject of study for many years. Some of the earliest findings on this topic focused on the connection between oral health and diabetes. It has been observed that diabetic patients’ blood sugar levels may improve when they receive treatment for gum disease, and that their overall health can benefit from this treatment.
Oral health also appears to be linked to other indicators of cardiometabolic health, including patients’ overall cardiovascular health. In a study, Aminoshariae and her colleagues found that individuals with very poor oral health—those with 10 or fewer natural teeth remaining in their mouths—were roughly 66% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease compared to people with better oral health. And in another study, co-authored by Yau-Hua Yu, an associate professor of periodontology at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, it was found that people who describe their oral health as fair or poor have an increased risk of mortality and may also be more likely to have cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes.
Like most research on the oral-systemic link, these studies cannot conclusively prove a cause-and-effect relationship. It’s possible that the relationship actually works in reverse: that individuals in poor health are more prone to experiencing poor dental health, Yu suggests. Other factors, such as socioeconomic status and access to nutritious food, may also play a role, she adds.
However, Aminoshariae believes that oral health does directly influence overall well-being. She likens teeth to sand dunes. Just as dunes shield inland areas from the sea, Aminoshariae believes teeth protect the body from foreign substances that could lead to disease. “Once they’re gone,” she says, “it’s like a free-for-all.”
The human microbiome, the name given to the vast communities of bacteria, viruses, and other microbes that inhabit the human body, is another potential explanation, Yu suggests. When you don’t clean your teeth properly, allowing food and other debris to accumulate on and between your teeth, these microbes can flourish, potentially contributing to gingivitis and gum disease over time, she explains.
When gum health deteriorates, the consequences can be far-reaching. The blood vessels in the gums become “leaky,” explains Yvonne Kapila, a professor and associate dean of research at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry. When someone’s gums are inflamed or diseased, “this leakiness allows bacteria, viruses, and all these other things that are in the outside world to enter your body” and potentially spread throughout it via the bloodstream, she explains.
In some cases, fragments of bacteria or other microbes may travel from the gums into the bloodstream and cause disease or inflammation in other organs, Kapila says. Bacterial matter from the mouth has been linked to heart disease, stroke, respiratory infections, and preterm birth, to name a few notable examples. And, Kapila says, studies and other research suggest that modifying the mouth’s microbiome, such as by treating gum disease, may help reverse some of these issues, indicating a true cause-and-effect relationship between oral and overall health.
How to take care of your oral health
The good news is that most people already know what they should be doing to maintain good oral health: eat a nutritious diet, brush your teeth each morning and night, and floss regularly. Yu’s research suggests that inadequate flossing is associated with a higher risk of death, while other studies show that good flossing habits reduce the likelihood of developing gum disease. Brushing for at least two minutes, twice a day, also lowers the chances of developing cardiovascular diseases, according to studies.
“Just like you shower every day, you have to brush your teeth every day and clean the gaps [in between] every day,” Yu says. “That’s the basics.”
Finally, maintain your twice-yearly dental appointments so a professional can assess your tooth and gum health and intervene, if necessary, before a situation becomes serious. “Prevention, prevention, prevention is so crucial,” Kapila says.
