How Does Poor Oral Health Affect Your Vision?
It has been shown that the state of your teeth, gums, and overall oral health greatly influences your capacity to see.
According to this research, the most typical dental conditions that impact the eyes are tooth decay, gum disease, and teeth with old mercury fillings.
The lymphatic system, for instance, may allow for the movement of neurotoxic microbes that require a root canal from your mouth to your eyes, where they may harm the optic nerve and result in blindness.
The following eye health conditions have been linked to mercury fillings, which are no longer used to treat cavities due to their risk:
Iritis
Cataract formation
Retinitis pigmentosa
Problems with colour vision
Periodontal disease, commonly referred to as gum disease, is a pervasive and agonizing inflammation of the tissues supporting the teeth caused by harmful bacteria that are allowed to increase below the gum line, typically due to gingivitis.
Gingivitis, the precursor of periodontal disease that we’ve all heard about in mouthwash commercials, develops when leftover food particles build up in the gum tissues and create an environment favourable for the growth of disease-causing bacteria.
Gingivitis symptoms and signs include gum bleeding, especially after brushing; gum swelling; sore gums; bad odour; and gum inflammation.
Moreover, gingivitis can progress into full-blown gum disease and even cause loose teeth that will eventually need to be pulled if it is not treated right away at a dentist’s office by a qualified dentist.
As a result, the harmful microorganisms are made available to the patient’s lymphatic and vascular systems, from where they might spread to other organs, including the eyes. Once within the eyes, these viruses can damage eye tissue and impair eyesight.
Open-Angle Glaucoma and Poor Dental Hygiene
An increase in intraocular fluid accumulation that puts too much harmful pressure on the optic nerve causes open-angle glaucoma, a degenerative eye disease. Open-angle glaucoma can result in blindness in addition to vision loss if untreated.
According to a recent study published in the Journal of Glaucoma, the number of healthy teeth a patient has, which is a gauge of their dental hygiene, may also play a part in the emergence of different glaucoma forms that jeopardize eyesight.
Tips for Maintaining Dental Health for Clear Vision
The research and our observations of patients at the Royal East Dental point to the need for improved dental hygiene practices as part of a more comprehensive strategy for improving eyesight. Therefore, we urge everyone seeking her eye care also to follow the advice on good oral hygiene:
Regularly brushing and flossing their teeth
Using a mouthwash designed to kill disease-causing germs
Seeing a qualified East Hamilton dental care dentist every six months for follow-up exams and preventative cleanings.
Immediate removal of mercury fillings, root canal treatment for seriously infected teeth, and rapid treatment of any gingivitis or gum disease that is already present.
Conclusion
For affordable dental treatment, go to one of the many excellent dentists in your region. To ensure that you can have good eyesight, make sure also to take care of your oral health.
Emergency dentistry, pediatric dentistry, Invisalign, and root canal therapy are all services provided by Royal East Dental, a family dentist in Dundas, Hamilton, Ontario. Book an appointment with your dentist in Hamilton.