Dentist warns poor oral health can affect the whole body

Poor oral health may affect the risk or course of some serious illnesses, dentist Sára Fossá says, according to KVF.

Speaking on the radio programme Heilsuhornið, Fossá said the mouth is connected to the rest of the body and that oral health involves more than preventing cavities. Untreated inflammation in the gums or a tooth can affect other parts of the body, she said.

Research indicates that bacteria can travel from the mouth into the bloodstream and may affect conditions including diabetes and cardiovascular disease, Fossá said. Bacteria from the oral cavity have also been found in blood clots in the heart and brain, she added.