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Diabetes, hypertension, sick sinuses or spine that refuses to obey – how many of us associate these diseases with caries, abnormal bite or periodontal disease? Meanwhile, the cause of many serious systemic diseases may lie in pathological conditions existing in the oral cavity.
The most serious diseases resulting from pathologies in the oral cavity
The oral cavity is an integral part of the body and a gate that opens the way to further body structures. Thus, any lesions or abnormalities that occur in the oral cavity, unless treated, can lead to the development of serious systemic diseases. The causes of systemic diseases, which in some cases are even life-threatening, may be dental diseases and disorders in their eruption or development, periodontal diseases, malocclusion, diseases of the oral mucosa, diseases of the tonsils and nasal collateral cavities.
The list of serious conditions that can be caused by untreated oral pathologies is long. It includes diabetes mellitus (also gestational diabetes), hypertension, heart and circulatory system diseases including atherosclerosis and infarction, musculoskeletal diseases and spine problems, focal infections, inflammation of the ears, eyes or sinuses, meningitis, sepsis, cancer , allergies, nephritis, digestive system diseases, disturbances in the emotional zone.
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Bacteria and inflammatory factors
Untreated dental and periodontal diseases are the most common causes of serious systemic diseases. The most dangerous to general health are bacteria that destroy the tooth structure and microorganisms that live in the diseased periodontal tissues and in pathological gingival pockets. As long as the microorganisms are found only in the tooth or only in the periodontal structures, the situation is relatively controlled. However, when these bacteria enter the bloodstream, it becomes dangerous: they can travel through the blood to distant organs, destroy some of their cells or cause infection. They can even lead to the development of sepsis. For example, when bacteria reach the kidneys, they can cause glomerulonephritis; when microbes attack the pancreas, they can destroy or damage the cells in this organ responsible for the production of insulin and lead to the development of diabetes mellitus; reaching the heart, they cause inflammation of the heart muscle or endocarditis or pericardium. Bacterial factors that move through the blood and lymph vessels and, thanks to the continuity of tissues, activate the immune response of the body – which may result, among others, in the development of allergies and accelerate the deposition of atherosclerotic plaque in the vessels, thus contributing to the faster development of cardiovascular diseases. Inflammatory factors from the diseased structures of the oral cavity may also have an allergenic effect on the system. They are also suspected to play a key role in the development of hypertension as a complication of untreated oral conditions, the development of gastrointestinal ulcers, and the development of certain skin, nerve or joint diseases.
Diseases caused by inflammatory or bacterial factors spreading from the site of primary infection (such as a diseased tooth or periodontium) to other organs are referred to as focal diseases. They are especially dangerous for children. This is due to the difference in tissue structure and a slightly different work of the immune system than in adults.
Malocclusion, gaps in dentition and abnormalities in tooth development
Incorrect bite or improperly formed dentition can ruin your life. Firstly, because they create complexes and induce the disturbance of the emotional zone, which in turn may lead to the development of neuroses, phobias, depression or other psychosomatic diseases. Secondly: because they can lead to serious diseases of the digestive system or the musculoskeletal system. They are also common causes of complications in the form of inflammation of the oral mucosa or periodontitis.
Malocclusions, gaps in the teeth or abnormalities in the development of the teeth can lead to problems with chewing and proper grinding of the food. When inaccurately fragmented food goes to the stomach, it can cause the development of inflammation, acid reflux disease or secondary problems with teeth digested with hydrochloric acid flowing back from the stomach.
Gaps in the teeth are sometimes neglected. Meanwhile, their supplementation is necessary to maintain a healthy bite. The teeth like neighborhood – if a tooth is removed, the remaining teeth begin to move, distort or rotate. Hence, there is only one small step from the development of a malocclusion and a number of diseases related to this anomaly. Malocclusion and abnormalities in the development of teeth or enamel also contribute to the formation of caries and related complications in the form of focal diseases, and to the occurrence of motor organ dysfunction. The mechanism of the latter phenomenon is as follows: incorrect bite forces other than proper functioning of the stomatognathic system. Stress and pressure develop in the temporomandibular joints, and with time displacements, which affect other bone and articular structures in the skull and spine.
Erosions and ulcers
Neoplasm is an extremely serious complication of untreated oral cavity diseases. Its development may be caused by underestimated leukoplakia, ulcers, erosions or diseases of the tongue. The causes of these inflammations may be: mechanical irritation (e.g. poorly fitting prosthetic restoration, jewelry on the tongue), repeated thermal stimuli (when smoking cigarettes) or chemical stimuli in the form of alcohol. It must not be forgotten that leukoplakia is classified as a precancerous condition.
We do not yet know all the mechanisms of development of dangerous diseases caused by oral pathologies. It is known for certain that each untreated condition of the oral cavity leads to serious complications in the form of systemic diseases. These, in turn, may further deteriorate the health of the oral cavity (this is the case with diabetes or reflux disease). There is a vicious cycle that can be broken fortunately by decisively treating any oral pathology. The sooner they are started, the chances of maintaining general health increase.
Read also:
- How does the condition of the mother’s teeth affect the development of pregnancy?
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