How Does Oral Care Affect Your Overall Health?

Good oral health doesn’t just create a shiny and healthy smile. It can impact your overall bodily health as well. A healthy mouth can stop harmful bacteria from getting into other areas of your body, leading to a happier and healthier life overall. This article explains three ways good oral health can help improve overall health and offers tips on ways to take excellent care of your mouth.

Three ways good oral health helps improves overall health

The primary reason good oral health improves overall health is the reduction of bacteria. Bacteria in the mouth can spread to other areas of the body if left unchecked, causing health issues.¹ Here are some ways that good oral health can help keep you healthier by reducing oral bacteria:

1. Improves cardiovascular health

Gum disease might be linked to an increased risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions. This may be because bacteria that builds up in the mouth can get into the bloodstream, potentially building up plaque in the arteries and causing inflammation.¹ Maintaining good oral health minimizes bacteria buildup and can help protect you against cardiovascular diseases.

2. Reduces infections

Bacterial buildup in the mouth isn’t just linked to heart disease. It can also cause infections. If bacteria enter the bloodstream, it can lead to endocarditis. This is an uncommon but potentially fatal infection of the endocardium, the heart’s inner lining.¹ Furthermore, infections in the mouth can spread to other areas of the mouth, face, jaw, head, and neck.² This can create much more complex and severe issues. Good oral health habits can help keep bacteria at bay and help clean out any infection before it progresses.

3. Leads to healthier pregnancies

Bad oral health in pregnant women has been linked to numerous pregnancy issues, such as:³

• Gestational diabetes
• Low birth weight
• Fetal growth restriction
• Pre-eclampsia
• Pre-term birth

Keeping your oral health in good shape can boost your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and baby.

How to maintain good oral health

Here are ways to take excellent care of your oral health to help guard your overall bodily health:

1. Brush, floss, and rinse daily

Your daily oral health routine is the cornerstone of a healthy smile:

• Brushing: Brush two to three times per day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Use gentle circular motions to cover the whole tooth, and make sure to angle the brush upward and gently brush the gumline.
• Flossing: Floss once per day, gently working the floss between each tooth. Curve your floss into a C shape to grab any debris and work under the gumline as well. Flossing may be best at the end of the day before brushing to maximize its effectiveness.
• Rinse: Rinsing once daily can help clean any remaining debris from your mouth and freshen your breath. Antimicrobial mouthwashes can target bacteria in particular, to help reduce health issues associated with oral bacteria.

2. Avoid tobacco and minimize alcohol consumption

Tobacco can stain your teeth and worsen your breath in the short term. However, in the long term, it can dramatically increase your risk of getting tooth decay and oral cancer. It can also create overall health issues, such as lung cancer.⁴ Meanwhile, excessive alcohol consumption can reduce saliva and lead to dry mouth, accelerating bacterial growth.⁵ Quitting smoking (or use of other tobacco products) and reducing alcohol consumption can reduce your risks of oral health issues.^4,5

3. Visit the dentist regularly

No oral health routine is complete without regular dental visits. Visiting your dentist’s office lets the dentist or hygienist clean your teeth and address any potential missed spots. They can also offer oral health advice and look for early signs of potential issues. Dental visits need not be expensive. Dental plans are often budget-friendly and can help cover the cost of routine appointments since those usually involve preventive care. Furthermore, if issues do arise, they can dramatically reduce care costs.

For example, those wondering, “How much do dentures cost without insurance?” may be surprised to learn that a full set of permanent dentures can range from $1,000 to $28,000.⁶ Some dental plans offer coverage to help with those types of expenses.

The bottom line

The human body’s systems are not isolated. When one area is unhealthy, it can impact the health and function of other systems. Good oral health may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases; help minimize the chance of infections, and may even lead to healthier pregnancies. Maintaining good oral health starts with brushing, flossing, and rinsing. Avoiding tobacco and minimizing alcohol can help your oral and overall health directly. Additionally, visiting the dentist ties it all together. The dentist’s work and advice can help you maintain a healthy smile and help preserve your overall health and well-being.

Sources:

¹ Mayo Clinic – Oral health: A window to your overall health. Updated March 14, 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art-20047475. Accessed April 3, 2025.

² Medical News Today – Signs and symptoms of a tooth infection spreading to the body. Updated January 31, 2025. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/symptoms-of-tooth-infection-spreading-to-the-body. Accessed April 3, 2025.

³ National Institutes of Health – Assessment of Oral Health Status and Pregnancy Outcomes Among Women in Saudi Arabia. Updated May 17, 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11141704/. Accessed April 3, 2025.

⁴ U.S. Food & Drug Administration – How Tobacco Use Affects Oral Health. Updated November 19, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/health-effects-tobacco-use/how-tobacco-use-affects-oral-health. Accessed April 3, 2025.

⁵ National Association of Dental Plans – Drinking less alcohol can lead to better mouth and eye health. Updated April 15, 2024. https://www.nadp.org/drinking-less-alcohol-can-lead-to-better-mouth-and-eye-health/. Accessed April 2, 2025.

⁶ GoodRx Health – How Much Do Dentures Cost? Updated February 20, 2025. https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/oral/cost-of-dentures. Accessed April 3, 2025.

Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, include availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.

Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.

In Delaware, Policies A82100R-A82400R, In Idaho, Policies A82100RID-A82400RID, In Oklahoma, Policies A82100ROK-A82400ROK. In Virginia, Policies A82100RVA – A82400RVA.

Dental, Vision, and Hearing coverage is underwritten by Tier One Insurance Company. Tier One Insurance Company is part of the Aflac family of insurers. In California, Tier One Insurance Company does business as Tier One Life Insurance Company (NAIC 92908).

Dental, Vision and Hearing: In Delaware, Policy T80000, In Idaho, Policy T80000ID. In Oklahoma, Policy T80000OK. Dental claims are administered by SKYGEN USA, LLC. Vision claims are administered by EyeMed Vision Care, LLC. Hearing claims are administered by Nations Hearing. NOTICE: The coverage offered is not a qualified health plan (QHP) under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and is not required to satisfy essential health benefits mandates of the ACA. The coverage provides limited benefits.

Coverage may not be available in all states, including but not limited to NJ, NM, NY, VA or VT. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on stat and plan levels. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact policy and rider forms for benefit details, definition, limitations and exclusions.

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