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 Links Between Oral and General Health
The
Mouth as Early Warning System
Problems in the mouth can signal trouble in other parts of the body. AIDS
and osteoporosis are examples.
- Mouth lesions and
other oral conditions may be the first sign of HIV infection, and are
used to determine the stage of infection and to follow its progression
to AIDS.
- Studies in
post-menopausal women suggest that bone loss in the lower jaw may
be related to the skeletal bone loss seen in osteoporosis.
Saliva
As a Diagnostic Tool
Saliva, like blood and urine, can be used to detect and measure many
compounds in the body. Saliva collection has the advantage of being
noninvasive.
- Many medications as
well as alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, opiates, and other drugs can be
detected and measured in saliva. Hormones and environmental toxins can
also be measured in saliva.
- Saliva can be used to
detect antibodies against viruses such as HIV and hepatitis A and B,
as well as antibodies against bacteria like Helicobacter pylori, which
causes peptic ulcers.
- Saliva could
potentially replace blood testing for diagnosis and monitoring of
diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, alcoholic cirrhosis,
and many infectious diseases.
The Mouth As Source of Infection
The human mouth is home to millions of microorganisms, most of them
harmless. Under certain conditions, however, some can cause oral
infections such as tooth decay or gum disease. Oral bacteria may also
enter the bloodstream if normal protective barriers in the mouth are
breached. This can happen as a result of dental treatment or even tooth
brushing and flossing.
In people with healthy immune systems, the influx of oral bacteria into
the bloodstream is harmless. If the immune system is weakened by disease
or medical treatments, however, oral bacteria can cause infection in other
parts of the body. Infective endocarditis and oral complications of cancer
treatments are examples.
- Infective endocarditis
results when oral bacteria enter the bloodstream and stick to the
lining of diseased heart valves.
- Harsh cancer
treatments that damage mouth tissues can open the door to debilitating
oral infections as well as systemic infections resulting from the
spread of oral microorganisms. Besides cancer patients, others at
increased risk for general infections caused by oral bacteria include
hospitalized patients unable to practice oral hygiene, patients taking
medications that reduce saliva flow, and those taking antibiotics that
alter the balance of microorganisms in the mouth.
Oral
Infections As Risk Factors
Recent studies point to associations between oral infections – primarily
gum infections – and diabetes; heart disease; stroke; and preterm,
low-weight births. To date, there is not enough evidence to conclude that
oral infections cause these serious health problems. Research is under way
to determine if the associations are causal or coincidental.
- Gum infections have
been called "the sixth complication of diabetes," because
people with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease.
Researchers are exploring a possible two-way connection between the
conditions to see if treating gum disease improves diabetic control.
- Recent studies point
to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke in people with gum
infections; the risk increases with the severity of the oral
infection. However, there is not yet enough evidence to establish oral
infection as an independent risk factor for heart disease or stroke.
- Some studies have
found that mothers of preterm, low birth weight infants tend to have
more severe gum disease than mothers of normal birth weight babies.
More research is needed to determine if gum infections do indeed
contribute to babies being born too soon and too small.
For more information,
contact:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Oral Health, MS F-10
4770 Buford Highway, NE
Atlanta, GA 30341
1-888-CDC-2306
http://www.cdc.gov
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Institutes of Health
Building 45, Room 4AS-19
45 Center Drive MSC 6400
Bethesda, MD 20892-6400
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov
If you have questions or comments, e-mail:cdcinfo@cdc.gov
Related Links
From the Office of the Surgeon General
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
May 2000
Historical Document
Page last modified: October 4, 2004
Content source:
Division of Oral Health,
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion |
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