How Dental Health Affects Your Brain

If you think about it, your mouth and teeth are actually quite a marvel of science. Your teeth help you chew, speak, and smile—and they can also tell us a lot about your overall health. Did you know that dental health has been linked to serious diseases like heart disease and diabetes? Read on to learn more about the connection between oral and brain health:

Heart Disease and Stroke Are Major Health Risks

You may not realize it, but your mouth is a source of many health issues. It’s a common misconception that dental problems are just cosmetic and don’t affect us physically in any way. The truth is that dental health has been linked to some major health issues like heart disease and stroke, diabetes and dementia.

When you have gum disease, the bacteria in your mouth can get into your bloodstream. These bacteria then enter the walls of your blood vessels where they produce chemicals called cytokines (pronounced “sy-co-kites”). These substances cause inflammation throughout the body – including in the arteries leading to your heart or brain – which can lead to serious problems like atherosclerosis or coronary artery disease; this then increases your risk for having a stroke or heart attack later on down the road!

Brain Swelling Is a Risk of Untreated Tooth Infections

Brain swelling is a serious condition that requires immediate treatment. If you ignore a dental infection, it can cause brain swelling, which has symptoms like nausea, vomiting, headaches and confusion.

In cases of severe tooth infections or abscesses (pus-filled pockets in the gums), doctors may need to drain your sinuses to relieve pressure on the brain. In rare cases where an abscess ruptures into an artery near your ear or eye socket, permanent damage can occur if not treated quickly enough

Infections In the Mouth Can Result in Dementia

Dementia is a disease that affects the brain and causes problems with memory, thinking, language and behavior.

Dementia can be caused by infections, such as gum disease. Dementia is not curable, but it can be treated. It's more common in older adults than younger people.

People with dementia might forget words or names for things like food or household items that are around them all the time—or they may get confused about what day it is and how old they are. They may also have trouble following conversations or understanding jokes; asking simple questions; remembering appointments; walking without getting lost; paying attention during movies or conversations; having normal interactions with others; planning activities such as meals and outings; shopping for groceries; recognizing family members' faces.

Tooth Loss May Be Related to Parkinson's Disease

The relationship between your teeth and brain health has just been further explored by a team of researchers at the University of California, San Francisco. They found that people who had lost their teeth were more likely to have Parkinson’s disease later in life.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement, causing tremor and stiffness in muscles, as well as slowness or rigidity in limbs and face muscles. It usually starts with mild symptoms that worsen over time; eventually it can lead to dementia. In some cases, however, symptoms appear suddenly without any previous warning signs.

Parkinson's disease is caused by the death of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain; these neurons are involved with controlling movement and emotional responses because they help regulate our reward system (telling us when we've done something right). This means that losing them can lead to cognitive impairment too—and we know from previous research how important oral health is for maintaining good cognitive function!

Gum Health May Affect Diabetes

Diabetes affects the body’s ability to process sugar, and it can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Diabetes isn’t just about blood sugar levels—it also affects your body's ability to produce new cells within your gums. This can cause gum disease that can make diabetes worse. Gum disease can lead to tooth loss and even more serious conditions like cardiovascular disease or cancer.

Gum health may affect diabetes in several ways:

● The bacteria found in periodontal (gum) pockets may be related to insulin resistance or glucose intolerance in some people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

● Researchers have found that bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream through damaged tissue caused by periodontal (gum) diseases. These bacteria may influence the risk of developing T2DM by affecting insulin production or response in the pancreas, increasing postprandial hyperglycemia (high blood sugar after eating), contributing indirectly through inflammation of other tissues involved in regulation of glucose homeostasis such as liver and skeletal muscle tissue which subsequently release inflammatory cytokines [proteins] that may further promote insulin resistance/glucose intolerance through activation of receptors/signaling pathways on adipocytes [fat cells], hepatocytes [liver cells], skeletal muscle cells etc., lowering secretion of incretins like glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1) from intestinal enteroendocrine L cell networks; ultimately leading up towards decreased sensitivity towards exogenous insulin

Poor Oral Health Is the Reason for Serious Medical Conditions

Poor oral health can contribute to a number of serious medical conditions, including diabetes and heart disease. But if you have poor dental health, it may also be affecting your brain health in ways you don't even realize.

Dental health is linked to the brain—in fact, roughly 75% of people with dementia have oral problems! It's important for maintaining overall good health and has been shown to improve cognitive function as well as mood and sleep quality. And if you're not feeling 100%, it could be a good reason to visit North York Smile Centre and get your teeth cured.

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you understand the relationship between your teeth and brain health. If you’re worried about your oral health, it’s a good idea to seek consultation with a specialist.

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