Healthy mouth, healthy body

Short Description
healthy body. T. he mouth is a window into the health. of the body. It can show signs of nutri-. tional deficiencies or general infection. …

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Content
JADA, Vol. 137 http://jada.ada.org April 2006 563
Healthy mouth,
healthy body
The mouth is a window into the health
of the body. It can show signs of nutritional
deficiencies or general infection.
For example, systemic diseases-those
that affect the entire body, such as diabetes,
AIDS and Sj?ren? syndrome-may first
become apparent because of mouth lesions or
other oral problems.
The mouth is filled with countless bacteria,
some linked to tooth decay and periodontal (gum)
disease. Researchers have found that periodontitis
(the advanced form of periodontal disease
that can cause tooth loss) is linked with other
health problems, such as cardiovascular disease,
stroke and bacterial pneumonia. Likewise, pregnant
women with periodontitis may be at
increased risk of delivering preterm and/or
low-birth-weight infants.
EXPLORING POSSIBLE LINKS
More studies are needed, but some researchers
suspect that bacteria and inflammation linked to
periodontitis play a role in some systemic diseases
or conditions. Likewise, diseases such as diabetes,
blood cell disorders, HIV infections and AIDS can
lower the body’s resistance to infection, making
periodontal diseases more severe.
Several studies link chronic inflammation from
periodontitis with the development of cardiovascular
problems. Some evidence suggests that…