The interconnected world of oral and systemic health
GEHA Solutions | March 24, 2025
Gum inflammation is not just a mouth problem; it is closely connected to other health issues in the body. These connections show that oral health affects overall health, and overall health affects oral health.
Several factors contribute to the link between oral health to overall health, like genes, stress, smoking, certain foods, medications and changes in the body's immune system. Gum disease has been linked to many health problems, such as:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Eating disorders
- Heart disease
- Liver disease
- Mental health conditions
- Metabolic syndrome
- Obesity
- Osteoporosis
- Pregnancy complications
- Respiratory diseases
- Rheumatoid arthritis
As dentistry advances, it's important for benefit professionals to understand how oral health affects overall health. This knowledge helps in providing better support for your members.
Learn more:
Oral health’s inextricable connection to systemic health: Special populations bring to bear multimodal relationships and factors periodontal disease to systemic diseases and conditions - PMC (nih.gov)
Kapila YL. Oral health's inextricable connection to systemic health: Special populations bring to bear multimodal relationships and factors connecting periodontal disease to systemic diseases and conditions. Periodontol 2000. 2021;87(1):11-16. doi:10.1111/prd.12398
The information contained herein is for information and educational purposes only. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.