What causes teeth to be unhealthy?

Teeth can affect one's health in a number of ways.

First, being that the teeth are an integral part of the first step in digestion, healthy teeth are necessary for proper nutrition. If one cannot effectively chew some foods, such as meats and vegetables, these may be left out of the diet, thereby limiting sources of important nutrients and fiber. This can lower one's health.

Decayed teeth can be a source of infection and inflammation, which can have an adverse affect on one's health. If one is a diabetic, several studies have shown that blood sugar levels are harder to stabilize when one has oral infections from tooth decay or gum disease.

Some people are at risk for a condition called sub-acute bacterial endocarditis (SBE, a life threatening infection of the heart), and they can get this infection if bacteria in the mouth transit to the heart via the bloodstream due to infected gums.

Researchers are just now beginning to discover how important a healthy mouth is in terms of overall health.