What is the connection between oral health and general health?
Esfera Medica
It may sound strange, but a dentist can provide important information about a patient’s general state of health. The mouth is a means by which you can have access to very valuable information that many times people overlook and that could affect their health.
Bad oral alignment, for example, can cause tension and muscle pain, lack of concentration, disharmonized or aged appearance, poor posture and tread, digestive problems, poor performance and migraine1.
According to the American Association of Orthodontists of the United States, in that territory alone there are more than 4.5 million people who use some type of oral appliance to straighten their teeth 2.
According to Terry Pracht, DDS, former President of that institution, poor oral alignment has its origin in hereditary, environmental factors and bad habits such as, in the case of children, sucking your finger or pushing your teeth with your tongue; In less case the problems are due to accidents that compromise the mandibular function.
- Garza I, Schwedt TJ, Robertson CE, Smith JH. Headache and other craniofacial pain. In: Daroff RB, Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, eds. Bradley’s Neurology in Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 103
- Braces: Not Just for Looks, Causes of Crooked Teeth. Avilable in: http://www.enotalone.com/article/9045.html
- Specific Action Program. Prevention, Detection and Control of Oral Health Problems 2013-2018. Available in: http://www.cenaprece.salud.gob.mx/descargas/pdf/PAE_PrevencionDeteccionControlProblemasSaludBucal2013_2018.pdf
