HJAR May/Jun 2021

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  MAY / JUN 2021 57 Niki Carter, D.M.D. Dental Director Delta Dental of Arkansas loss around the world. 6 In Arkansas, 22.9% of adults who are 65 and over have had all of their natural teeth extracted. 7 Oral health plays a major role in the over- all health in our bodies. The mouth is the entry portal for our digestive system and respiratory tract, and it affects all that enters. This includes not only food and drink, but also bacteria, saliva and infection. If teeth are missing in the mastication process, di- gestion and absorption of nutrients will be profoundly compromised. When this pro- cess is compromised, bodily functions are also compromised due to lack of nutrients received, thereby reducing the amount of energy received. Oral mucosa, the oral cavity’s layer of skin, is amazingly absorptive. This is how many nutrients and medications enter the bloodstream so quickly when placed sub- lingually. Conversely, this is also how toxins are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. 8 The natural defenses of the body and good oral hygiene help to decrease bacteria. When bacteria are allowed to thrive, as in the case of periodontitis, this increased bacterial lev- el can lead to infections and compromise other co-existing diseases, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. 9 Research has well documented the con- nection of several chronic illnesses and disease states to poor oral health. Besides diabetes and cardiovascular disease, other diseases associated with poor oral health include endocarditis, stroke, pneumonia, HIV/AIDS, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, birth complications, Parkinson’s disease, ar- thritis, kidney disease and liver disease. An individual’s lifestyle and habits play a big role in oral health, thereby affecting overall health. Tobacco products, including cigarettes, pipes, e-cigarettes and chewing tobacco, have negative effects in the oral cavity. The foremost are stain, foul odor and cancer potential. If an individual par- ticipates in any of these habitual activities, they are placed in a higher risk category for future oral cancer potential. HPV-16 has a close association to oropharyngeal cancer. HPV vaccination may sharply reduce oral HPV infections that are a major risk factor for acquiring oropharyngeal cancer. Oral health status greatly affects preg- nancy. Hormonal and physiological chang- es are multifaceted, and these changes can manifest in the mouth. Gingivitis, gingival hyperplasia, pyogenic granulomas, and various salivary alterations are a few of the changes commonly witnessed among pregnant women. Vomitus affects the oral cavity, as the increased acidic level is seen in the saliva. Morning sickness and nausea often cause reduced proper oral hygiene habits, which lead to increased bacteria in the mouth and in the bloodstream. Poor oral health status is linked to preterm delivery and low birth weight babies. 10 Studies show how a deficient level of vi- tamins and minerals in the phase before conception influences the development of the fetal embryo. This concurrently influ- ences dental organogenesis, the growth of the maxilla, mandible, and skull and facial development. 11 Environmental and genetic factors also play a weighted role in oral health. For ex- ample, having a genetic predisposition to diabetes places an individual in a higher risk category for environmental sensitivities and caloric excess. Type 2 Diabetes is driven by the epidemic obesity problem evident in the U.S. and is complicated by constant environ- mental and social habits of consumption. Diet influences the health of the oral cav- ity in development of teeth, onset of dental erosion, state of periodontal health and the oral mucous in general. 12 The interdisciplinary collaboration of both dental and medical professions is of utmost importance to provide care in the model of a whole body approach of achiev- ing optimal health. The oral cavity is an in- tegral part of the body, which has vast in- fluence. The good news is that many oral diseases, the manifestations of which wreak havoc on overall health, can be prevented and treated if caught early. Healthcare pro- viders must promote healthy practices for good oral health, which are essential for positive overall health outcomes. n REFERENCES 1 Tooth Decay Is the Most Prevalent Disease: https://www.mdedge.com/fedprac/ article/114729/pain/tooth-decay-most- prevalent-disease 2 Dental Caries Overview: https://www.nidcr . nih.gov/research/data-statistics/dental- caries 3 Oral Health and Well-Being: https://www. ada.org/.../health-policy-institute/oral- health-and-well-being/arkansas-facts 4 Dental Statistics (US & Worldwide) - Elec- tric Teeth: https://www.electricteeth.com/ dental-statistics 5 How Your Oral Health Affects Your Overall Wellness: https://www.webmd.com/oral- health/features/oral-health-affects-wellness 6 The Effects of Oral Health on Systemic Health: https://www.agd.org/docs/default- source/self-instruction-(gendent)/gendent_ nd17_aafp_kane.pdf 7 Percentage of Adults 65+ Who Have Had All of Their Natural Teeth Extracted https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/ percent-who-had-all-teeth-extracted/ 8 How Does the Oral Cavity Affect the Entire Body?: https://info.nihadc.com/integrative- health-blog/bid/63946/How-Does-the-Oral- Cavity-Affect-the-Entire-Body 9 Oral health: A window to your overall health: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy- lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art- 20047475 10 Oral health challenges in pregnant women: Recommendations for dental care profes- sionals: https://www.sciencedirect.com/ science/article/pii/S2352003515000404 11 Good Oral Health and Diet: https://www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3272860/ 12 Genetic Predisposition for Type 2 Diabe- tes, but Not for Overweight/Obesity, Is As- sociated with a Restricted Adipogenesis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC3075240/