POOR ORAL HEALTH CAN CAUSE VISION LOSS And, Yes, Even Blindness As a child, you might not remember your dentist telling you about the ways oral health can be harmful for your overall health. That might be because it’s a newer topic of interest. Today, new studies are constantly discovering surprising things about the mouth-body connection and how bacteria that enters the bloodstream from the mouth influences your body’s overall health. Some of these shocking findings include the fact that gum disease affects your vision — and more than you might think. The Journey of Neurotoxic Bacteria According to recent studies, certain dental problems can carry over into the eyes due to linked neurotoxic bacteria that can develop. Tooth decay, gum disease, and old mercury fillings can all host these neurotoxic bacteria long enough to cause root problems — necessitating a root canal — and allowing the bacteria to circulate into your eyes through the lymphatic system. This can cause optic nerve damage, and then vision loss. For example, open-angle glaucoma is a degenerative eye disease that results from increased fluid buildup in the eye, which places excessive (and damaging) pressure on your optic nerve. When it’s untreated, it can
lead to vision loss and even blindness. A study by Dr. Louis Pasquale of Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary at Harvard Medical School has determined that a correlation exists between tooth infections and development of this type of glaucoma. In another study, published by Journal of Glaucoma, researchers recorded the number of natural teeth a glaucoma patient has, or doesn’t have, to help indicate their level of gum disease or tooth decay. The study suggests it’s quite possible that oral health is a contributing factor for different types of vision-endangering glaucoma. If you or a family member have old mercury fillings, please contact our offices right away so they can be replaced with newer, safer materials. Take immediate care of your teeth, especially if you require root canal therapy on a badly diseased tooth or have existing gum disease that requires treatment. Unfortunately, if you don’t act, as health professionals are finding out, it may not only cost you your smile, but also your vision. Take a Break
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