Gingivitis is a common and moderate form of gum disease that causes the gums to be swollen, red, and irritated around the base of your teeth. Gingivitis must be taken seriously and treated as soon as possible. If not, it can progress to periodontitis, a much more severe gum disease resulting in tooth loss.
Poor dental hygiene is the most common cause of gingivitis. Seeing your dentist regularly, flossing daily, and brushing at least twice daily can help prevent gingivitis. In fact, in some cases, this can even reverse it. We see gingivitis in people with poor oral hygiene, which typically means they generally have poor hygiene. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes it can also be caused by diet, such as eating loads of sugary snacks. Sugar is not good for the teeth, especially if it is not rinsed off. However, did you know that sugar is also not good for the skin? We’ll take a look at that later.
Poor dental health is not only linked to a slew of oral issues, including gum disease and tooth decay, but it can also impact the appearance and health of your skin. Brushing and flossing not only improves the appearance and health of your teeth, but it can also benefit your overall health. Let’s look at how poor oral health can contribute to skin issues such as acne and how to prevent acne caused by poor oral health.
When Should You Visit the Dentist?
Make an appointment with your dentist if you detect any of the signs and symptoms of gingivitis. Gingivitis, when left untreated, can develop into periodontitis. To prevent that, you should get treatment as soon as possible. When you notice that you have gingivitis, you might also start to notice you are having skin issues. While this can be easily reversed and prevented by watching what you eat, brushing your teeth, and taking better care of yourself, many people find themselves dealing with these sorts of issues.
RFSA Dermatology in San Antonio recommends that when you notice issues with your teeth, you might also want to make an appointment with a dermatologist. Taking matters into your own hands, clearing up your poor diet, and taking better care of yourself, can lead to improved skin and teeth.
Common Acne Causes
Let’s take a look at how acne and gingivitis are somewhat related.
When you were a teenager, you may have noticed that if you consumed sugary snacks, you often had issues with your skin. The onset of puberty and an overabundance of sugar causes acne. Simply said, sugar raises inflammation and insulin levels in the body. When this occurs, the skin may develop acne or age faster.
Sugar should be consumed in moderation for the best skin and general wellness. However, it is critical to understand that sugar does not act alone on the skin. Changes in hormones and the entrance of harmful microorganisms are two more typical reasons for acne. These two factors have the most impact on oral health and acne. Understanding how these affect your skin can assist you in preventing future acne caused by poor dental health.
How Does Bad Oral Health Affect Skin?
As you might expect, the skin and mouth have many similarities. A nasty bacteria that can cause infections is one of these things. Bacteria can collect around your gum line if you have poor dental health. Gingivitis is early in this and can be reversed with gum disease treatment.
However, if you continue to have poor dental health, the bacteria will attack more of your gumline, resulting in an infection or an abscess, which is a fluid-filled sack on the gum. This infection can potentially enter your bloodstream and infect other regions of your body.
If you develop acne while suffering from gum disease, you may have an infection that has moved to your skin. Gum disease is actually, in many cases, periodontitis. This disease can harm the soft tissue and destroy the bone that supports the teeth. It is often caused by a microorganism overgrowth, which triggers an immune-inflammatory response.
Periodontitis is frequently caused by dental plaque. Previous research has found links between poor oral hygiene, the presence of particular bacterial species, and several autoimmune skin disorders. Further studies have shown a link between poor oral health and skin issues.
Oral Health Can Help Prevent Acne
Bacteria, hormonal balance, age, and sugar are all variables that contribute to the development of acne. However, by following a good dental hygiene practice, you can reduce the number of dangerous germs that move to your skin from your gums. Similarly, this can reduce the amount of acne caused by gum disease.
Brush your teeth twice daily for two minutes to maintain optimum oral health. After that, floss your teeth at least once a day. Finally, remember to schedule your bi-annual oral checkup and cleaning with your dentist every six months. This will assist you in keeping your teeth healthy and identifying trouble areas early.
Although oral health is not the main cause of acne, it may worsen the effect of acne on your skin if you have gum disease. Follow a proper dental health practice to lower the risk of disorders associated with oral health, such as heart disease and diabetes. Please contact us today for additional information!
Other Skin Issues Related to Oral Health
A number of skin disorders, including lichen planus, psoriasis, pemphigus, and atopic dermatitis, have been linked to poor dental health and cleanliness. Patients with atopic dermatitis, in particular, had greater incidences of oral infections, toothaches, and gingivitis.
For example, severe eczema was linked to a higher prevalence of bleeding gums. Furthermore, patients with lichen planus were observed to have worsening symptoms if they had higher plaque issues and less dental care. On the other hand, improved oral hygiene was proven to improve oral lichen planus.
Further studies have shown that patients with psoriasis had a high oral streptococcal bacterial load. This, in turn, can cause oral hygiene issues.
While most dentists are not aware of other health issues caused by poor oral hygiene, it is important to note that it is directly related to many other health conditions. Proper hygiene is important for many reasons. While certain circumstances can affect your hygiene, getting back on track as quickly as possible is important.