Denture Facts
Oral Health And Overall Health:
The Connection Is Direct…
Aging does not cause oral diseases. Indeed, people
of any age can experience an oral disease. But oral diseases are
more prevalent with age. That is why regular dental visits, whether
you have natural or artificial teeth, are important for a lifetime
of good oral health.
The stakes are high. According to Oral Health
in America: A Report of the Surgeon General, “What amounts
to a ‘silent epidemic’ of oral diseases is affecting our
most vulnerable citizens – poor children, the elderly, and
many members of racial and ethnic minority groups.” 1 In addition,
the report says, “Individuals who are medically compromised
or who have disabilities are at greater risk for oral diseases,
and, in turn, oral diseases further jeopardize their health.”
The oral disease with the most serious consequence
is oral cancer. Oral cancer may appear as a red or white sore or
bump that does not heal within 1 or 2 weeks, and which may or may
not be painful. Other signs of oral cancer include swollen lymph
nodes of the neck, and difficulty swallowing and speaking.
The risk for oral cancer increases with age, tobacco
use, frequent use of alcohol, and exposure to sunlight.
Oral disease can also cause swelling and discomfort,
altered taste and bad breath, while also detracting from your good
looks.
Those symptoms can result from changes in the
gums, a reduced immune system, an increase in the number of systemic
diseases – such as bleeding disorders, diabetes, heart valve
problems, certain cardiovascular conditions, stroke and artificial
joints, as well as a greater use of over-the-counter and prescription
medicines.
1 Oral Health in America: A Report of the
Surgeon General, Department of Health and Human Services.
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