By Healthy Living March 29, 2021 - 2:28am

Your teeth, gums, and mouth can tell a lot about your overall health. Problems in other parts of your body often cause problems with dental health. Underlying illnesses can erode your teeth, weaken gums, and worsen the breath.

Below are 7 underlying conditions that can be linked to your dental health.

1. Diabetes
Over 50 percent of diabetic patients suffer from periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease. If you have uncontrolled diabetes, the levels of sugar in your blood and saliva are higher than in healthy people. A higher concentration of sugar in the saliva allows bacteria to spread faster. The overgrowth of bacteria in your mouth can lead to gum inflammation and tooth decay. Managing your blood sugar is crucial to prevent serious dental problems.

2. Obesity
If you have a lot of excess weight, you are at a higher risk of developing periodontitis. Excessive fat diffuse in your body causes the production of cytokines. While some of them help your body fight inflammations, others can actually increase it. This makes you more vulnerable to gum disease. Besides, the diet of obese people often lacks nutrients that are crucial for your immune system. When your immune system is compromised, you have difficulty fighting off infection. This allows the bacteria in your mouth to spread and cause dental problems.

3. High blood pressure
High blood pressure is another health condition that is linked to dental problems. If you have problems with your blood pressure, you are at higher risk of developing gum disease. Medications for high blood pressure can also affect your gums and cause mouth dryness. This allows bacteria to spread in your mouth and contribute to tooth decay. If you have high blood pressure, talk to your dentist about remedies that can help you prevent dental problems.

4. Kidney disease
It is important to be attentive to your dental health if you have long-term kidney disease. Kidney conditions often lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and bone weakening, all of which can put your dental health at risk. Patients with kidney disease often suffer from gum disease. In turn, bacteria causing gum disease can cause overall body inflammation and aggravate kidney disease. To preserve your dental health, your dentist should know if you have long-term kidney problems.

5. HIV
HIV can take a toll on your dental health even before you have the symptoms of this condition. People suffering from HIV frequently have a mouth yeast infection called thrush. This infection appears like white patches on your tongue, inner cheeks, and gums. HIV can also make you more susceptible to gum disease and mouth herpes. While there is no cure for HIV, most dental problems associated with this condition are preventable and treatable. If you have HIV, talk to the best dentist about additional preventative measures to preserve your dental health.

6. Heart disease
Problems with your dental health can increase your risk of heart disease. It is believed that bacteria causing gum disease can spread to other parts of your body, including the heart. When these bacteria enter your heart, they cause inflammation. Inflammation is the major risk factor for heart disease. To prevent heart problems, it is important to treat gum disease and maintain dental hygiene. If your gums are inflamed or bleeding, talk to your dentist about treatment.

7. Lung disease
If you regularly have a disease like COPD, pneumonia, or bronchitis, your dental health may be responsible for this. If you have gum disease, it can increase the number of harmful bacteria in your mouth. They may travel from your mouth to the lung and increase the risk of lung problems. Bad habits like smoking can make your lung problems worse. If you have gum disease, work with your doctor to cure it.