Can Tooth Infection Cause Stomach Problems

January 01, 2023 4 min read

Can Tooth Infection Cause Stomach Problems | Great Oral Health

Teeth are one of the important parts of our body, and if your teeth are not healthy, you can suffer different diseases, including stomach problems. We know that bacteria live naturally within our mouths. That means every time you swallow you are swallowing hundreds of bacteria. Although this may sound odd, there's no need to hurry off and wash your mouth. Certain of these bacteria are actually beneficial for us.

Your mouth requires healthy bacteria in order to keep your mouth and body well-maintained. Probiotic bacteria protect the mouth by releasing acids that keep decay-causing bacteria at bay. Other varieties of beneficial bacteria protect against harmful bacteria that cause gum disease. When there is a bacterial imbalance in your mouth, -- you have too many bad bacteria and too few good bacteria -- not only will your teeth and gums suffer, but your stomach health can become affected too.

Imagine your digestive system as an endless, winding hallway and your mouth as the entrance to the hallway. If you ingest lots of harmful bacteria because of poor oral health, the rest of your digestive system is also exposed to these harmful bacteria. Research has revealed a clear connection between oral diseases and systemic illness as oral pathogens have been connected to rheumatoid arthritis inflammation of the bowel and cardiovascular diseases. In this article, we will cover all the concerns about how can tooth infection cause stomach problems. 

How Does Oral Hygiene Affect The Functions Of The Digestive System?

Bacteria can travel between the mouth and stomach. If you have a huge range of dental cavities, it could be a sign of a faulty and unhealthy stomach. A healthy immune system can help you maintain a healthy mouth and a clean mouth improves your immune system. Because it functions in both ways, it's essential to take care of your overall health--especially your teeth because bad oral health may cause stomach issues.

How Does Digestive System Related To Dentistry?

The digestive system starts with dentistry. You can’t chew your food properly if you have bad teeth, causing bloating, gas, and even more stress. The teeth play an integral role in the digestive process as it’s where physical and chemical digestive processes begin. That means the condition of your teeth and gums can have an impact on your digestive health. When you put food into your mouth, your teeth break down the meal into pieces, and salivary glands beneath your tongue as well as around the sides as well as the roof inside your mouth produce saliva. The saliva mixes with your food and makes it easier to swallow. It also contains enzymes that break down carbohydrates into simple sugars to be used by the body.

If you swallow, the food that is created through chewing and saliva, referred to as a bolus, slides down your esophagus. Then the bolus is deposited into the stomach. Gastric juices that are brimming with powerful acids and enzymes combine with the bolus to create the chyme, which is a semi-fluid mixture. The stomach's muscles ensure that the food and juices stay moving throughout this process.

From the stomach, muscles move the chyme toward the beginning of your small intestine, known as the duodenum. Digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas and the bile of the gallbladder and liver help reduce the protein, carbohydrates, and fats found in your food. In the lower part of the small intestine, the jejunum as well as the ileum, your food gets broken up into smaller molecules, and villi on the walls of the small intestine absorb the nutrients.

The next step is the large colon, also known as the large intestine. The large intestine is responsible for removing the water from food items that are not digested by the body. What's left behind is a stool. The stool makes its way to the lower part of the large intestine, where the chamber called the rectum stores it until it is released through the anus.

Unhealthy Teeth Can Lead To Poor Digestion How? 

Dental health and gums that are healthy ensure that we chew properly, which contributes to a healthy digestive system. In addition, a connection has been established between the oral microbiome and digestion. The presence of harmful microbes in the mouth could result in your gums getting damaged, which could eventually cause gum disease. In addition, the bad bacteria that are present in saliva may travel to your digestive tract whenever you take a swallow. This can lead to an imbalance in your digestive system and, consequently, digestive issues.

Researchers have discovered two ways in which oral bacteria could cause stomach inflammation. The first is gum disease, which severely causes an imbalance in the mouth's normal healthy microbiome, which causes an increase in bacteria that cause gum inflammation. The same kind of bacteria may later make its way into the stomach.

Gum disease is caused by the increase in the amount of harmful oral bacteria that can be found in the mouth. If harmful bacteria accumulate in the mouth, they can be consumed and then travel through the digestive tract. Once in the stomach, the bacteria could cause inflammation in the stomach; the stomach normally resists the growth of harmful bacteria; oral bacteria can be able to kill the healthy bacteria in your stomach, decreasing their ability to fight the pathogens that cause disease. The bacteria originate through the mouth.

Conclusion 

The ability to chew your food properly is equally vital as the food you consume. Regular dental hygiene is the most effective method to ensure your teeth are well-maintained, for maintaining complete oral health you must use our Great Oral Care Package. Take care of your teeth and gums with the proper daily routine of brushing and flossing to keep your mouth healthy and clean to have a beautiful smile as well as good digestion; your stomach will thank you.


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