Good oral health is essential not only for a great smile and fresh breath but your overall health, including your digestive health. By digging deeper into practices for wellness, such as those in Green Valley, AZ where its people are trademarks of healthy lifestyles, understanding the relationship between oral health and digestive health can improve their lifestyle more accurately. The mouth is the doorway to the GI tract and problems here can impact downstream events during digestion. This blog post explores the interconnected nature of these two health aspects and proposes suggestions from a dental clinic in Green Valley, AZ.
The process of digestion begins in the mouth. It is the site where your food is crushed down by chewing or mastication. Mastication blends food with saliva, a fluid that contains carbohydrates and decomposing chemicals. The first stage of digestion can be impaired if there are problems involving the teeth or if there is gum disease, such as missing teeth and dry mouth. Inadequately chewed food results in bigger chunks entering the stomach and not being properly digested, which can result in digestive distress, but also cause problems like acid reflux or indigestion. For example, people with dental issues may avoid certain tough foods like raw veggies and nuts which provide necessary nutrients in promoting a healthy gut.
In addition, the bacterial balance in the mouth (the so-called oral microbiome) has a key influence on our digestive system. A healthy oral microbiome causes less bad bacteria swallowed and better/stable gut homeostasis. In other words, bad oral hygiene, gum disease, or tooth decay can increase the number of pathogenic bacteria. These bacteria make their way to the gut and may be a cause for blood in your stool if you are having digestive issues like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). People with periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease, have been shown to have elevated levels of systemic inflammation – which can make conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis worse.
In addition to this, the systemic inflammation that results from gum disease has repercussions beyond your mouth. Inflammation is the body’s natural response to infection, but long-term chronic inflammation can affect the entire body, such as the digestive tract. It can make existing problems like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis worse. Brushing and flossing and clean dental check-ups can reduce inflammation systemically, which protects your digestive health in general. Green Valley provides quality dental care to remedy whatever oral health problems you may have. Routine dental visits do not only keep your mouth healthy, they can detect issues that might compromise your digestion as well.
One of the many health-friendly benefits of being a resident of Green Valley, AZ, is access to local resources that advocate and support proper oral and digestive health. Dental clinics offer in-office cleanings, and fresh breath treatments with a choice of natural mouthwashes and treatments for gum disease or tooth decay. Speak to a nutritionist or dietitian to get individualized advice on how to eat in a way that benefits both your mouth and digestive system.
Workshops and educational resources are usually offered to the community with overall health being the focus, highlighting how different areas of wellness need each other to be well. Workshops teach the importance of fiber, for example, which is good for healthy digestion and teeth. Both fruits are high in fiber, which aids the process of cleaning teeth and maintains good digestion by preventing waste from accumulating.
To conclude, oral health and digestive health are interconnected to keep us in overall good health. Residents of Green Valley, AZ should stay on top of their dental health and digestive system by maintaining good oral hygiene, staying properly hydrated, eating a balanced diet, and taking advantage of local area health resources. This is a holistic approach to health, the fact that when one part of the body is healed other parts may see improvement. And keep in mind, good oral health is not just about looking good–it’s all connected to your overall health. All of these factors can contribute to a longer and healthier life in the thriving Green Valley, AZ community.
