The condition of the mouth can reflect and affect overall health. This means that poor oral health and untreated oral diseases and conditions can have an impact on general health and wellbeing. The inflammatory process that comes with gum diseases allows bacteria easier access from the mouth into the bloodstream and can have an impact on general health. So improving oral health may result in overall health benefits.
It has been shown that patients with coronary heart conditions and with periodontal disease can be at greater risk than their counterparts with normal health. Good oral health care is therefore one important aspect when it comes to the reduction of risk factors for patients at risk of coronary heart diseases.
According to some data, individuals with diabetes have a 50% greater risk of gum disease. The data also indicates that those with Type 2 diabetes are up to three times more likely to develop periodontal disease than people without diabetes. It follows that improving oral health in diabetic patients should be a vital part of their overall treatment.