Maintaining good oral hygiene is an essential part of your overall well-being. Not only does good oral health make for a bright smile, but it can also help you to prevent diseases caused by poor dental hygiene.
Neglecting dental care can lead to various systemic diseases, which can have a negative impact on multiple bodily systems at once. In this blog, we’ll delve deep into the statistics surrounding these illnesses, underscoring the importance of regular dental care.
If you’ve experienced dental negligence and you believe the negligence has led to further health issues, you may be eligible to open a dental negligence claim against your dentist. To see whether you have a claim, please start your claim here or contact our expert team at 0800 152 2038.
The Scale of Poor Oral Health in the UK
Due to the current shortage of NHS dentists and long waiting times, poor oral health has sadly become common in the UK. A large percentage of the population has some form of gum disease, showing how widespread the issue is.
Periodontal disease (commonly known as gum disease) is a significant health concern for people living in the UK. It can range from a simple gum inflammation (known as gingivitis) to a more serious form of the disease called periodontitis – the latter can result in severe damage to the soft tissues and bones supporting your teeth.
Here are some statistics that show the extent of these oral health issues:
- According to the British Society of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, gum disease affects up to 90% of British adults in some form.
- Severe periodontitis (the most advanced form of the condition) is estimated to impact around 10% of the UK population. In 2022, the Oral Health Foundation found that almost one in three British adults (31% of the population) have tooth decay.
- They also found that millions of people within the UK are missing routine dental check-ups due to access issues or a lack of awareness.
These figures demonstrate the widespread issue that is poor dental hygiene within the UK, also highlighting the extensive reach of gum disease within the population. Gum disease and its associated conditions can have serious long-term health consequences if not addressed properly and treated promptly, which may lead to systemic diseases affecting other parts of the body.
What Diseases Are Caused by Poor Dental Hygiene?
Poor dental health isn’t just tooth decay and bad breath. Instead, it can have severe consequences for your overall health and well-being if it isn’t addressed properly.
Research has been conducted that links inadequate oral hygiene to a range of systemic diseases, from diabetes to heart conditions and even respiratory infections. Here, we’ll explore some of the most common diseases caused by poor dental hygiene, as well as the science behind these connections.
The Link Between Diabetes and Periodontal Disease
One of the most worrying conditions that can be linked to dental health is diabetes. Interestingly, the relationship between these two conditions is considered bidirectional. This is because individuals with diabetes are more susceptible to infection, but having severe gum disease can also elevate your blood sugar levels and make diabetes harder to control. But it has been found that treating gum disease effectively can lead to improved blood sugar control for diabetic patients.
Diabetes UK has highlighted that people with diabetes are at a much higher risk of developing dental problems like gum disease. This means that it’s extremely important that you address any oral health issues as and when they arise.
The relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease can work both ways:
- People with poorly controlled diabetes are much more likely to develop gum infections, which can make it harder to manage their blood sugar levels effectively.
- Severe forms of gum disease can also increase blood sugar levels, leading to higher complication risks for diabetic patients.
- Further research suggests that 22% of people with type 2 diabetes have severe gum disease, which may also contribute to the worsening of their overall health.
Diabetes is one of the main diseases caused by poor dental hygiene, making good oral health care essential for managing the condition.
The Cardiovascular Connection with Periodontitis
Research has also been used to establish a significant link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Periodontal disease causes inflammation, which can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis (when the arteries harden), leading to heart attacks and strokes.
Evidence suggests that individuals with periodontitis have a 49% increased risk of heart disease, compared to those without the condition. There is also some evidence to suggest a connection between your oral health and the risk of having a stroke. A study presented at the American Stroke Association conference revealed that flossing your teeth once a week could reduce the risk of having an ischemic stroke by 22%.
This research involved over 6,000 adults who were followed for 25 years, indicating that maintaining oral hygiene practices like flossing can significantly reduce stroke risk. These findings highlight the broader health implications of simple oral care routines, making flossing a must.
Maintaining your oral hygiene can potentially reduce the risk of having similar cardiovascular conditions in the future. This makes it extremely important to take preventive measures and visit your dentist regularly for your dental checkups.
Respiratory Infections Linked to Poor Oral Health
Other diseases caused by poor dental hygiene include respiratory infections like pneumonia. If you have a dental infection, bacteria from the mouth can be aspirated into the lungs, which can sometimes lead to a respiratory infection. However, maintaining good oral health can reduce your risk of getting these infections, which is particularly important in vulnerable populations. This link further illustrates the systemic impact that your oral health can have on your overall well-being.
Respiratory infections can be particularly harmful for the following people:
- Elderly individuals: Aspiration pneumonia is a leading cause of death for elderly people.
- People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): Having poor oral hygiene can worsen COPD symptoms.
- Hospitalised patients: Ventilator-associated pneumonia can develop in hospitalised patients, due to poor oral care.
Evidence exists to suggest that having good oral hygiene could reduce your chances of encountering pulmonary diseases and respiratory infections, with particular emphasis placed on COPD and pneumonia.
Poor Dental Health and Pregnancy Complications
Having good oral health is crucial during pregnancy, yet many people are unaware of the risks associated with gum disease and pregnancy complications.
Research from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) states that:
- Pregnant women who have been diagnosed with gum disease are more likely to have premature/low-birth-weight babies than those without the condition.
- The bacteria from a gum infection can enter your bloodstream and reach the placenta, which may trigger an immune system response.
- Having poor oral health carries an increased risk of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy.
Yet only around half of pregnant women in the UK attend regular dental checkups – even though they are entitled to free NHS dental care during pregnancy.
The Economic Burden of Dental Neglect
Not only does poor oral health lead to systemic conditions, but it also places a financial burden on the NHS. Here are some statistics that highlight this strain:
- According to a government report on child dental health, the cost of preventable dental treatments in the UK exceeds £3.4 billion per year.
- Children’s tooth extractions from tooth decay cost the NHS £50 million annually.
- Untreated dental infections contribute to thousands of emergency hospital visits each year, which increases pressure on healthcare services.
Preventive care can be far more cost-effective than carrying out emergency treatments, highlighting the importance of regular check-ups and early intervention.
The Role of Public Health Initiatives
Public health initiatives can be vital for promoting good oral health and preventing the systemic diseases associated with poor dental hygiene. Supervised tooth-brushing events in schools and community fluoride varnish schemes have been implemented across the country to improve children’s oral health.
However, despite the British government announcing 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments, access to NHS dental services remains challenging in some areas – the areas hit the worst are often known as ‘dental deserts’. A BBC survey found that 90% of NHS dental practices were not accepting new adult patients, highlighting how significant the problem has become.
Find out more about how to find an NHS dentist in our extensive guide.
The Role of Dental Negligence in Systemic Diseases
It’s true that many oral health issues result from personal neglect, but a significant number of these conditions also appear after substandard dental care, often as a result of dental negligence.
Dental negligence can contribute to systemic diseases in several ways:
1. Misdiagnosed or Untreated Gum Disease
If a dentist fails to diagnose or treat a condition like gum disease, the bacteria can spread. This bacterial spread can then increase the risk of systemic diseases caused by poor dental hygiene, including heart disease, diabetes complications and respiratory infections.
Failing to treat or diagnose a dental health issue can have far-reaching consequences on your health, and may constitute dental negligence. Multiple cases have been reported of dentists facing legal action for neglecting to treat severe gum disease, resulting in long-term health complications for their patients.
2. Poorly Performed Extractions and Infections
If a tooth extraction is completed incorrectly (or without giving the proper aftercare advice required), the bacteria can enter the bloodstream, leading to sepsis or a life-threatening heart infection like endocarditis.
NHS England recently reported that hospital admissions for dental infections have risen by 40% in the past decade – many of these cases have been linked to delayed or inadequate dental treatment.
3. Failing to Detect Oral Cancer Early Enough
According to the Oral Health Foundation, mouth cancer rates have hit a record high recently, with 10,825 new cases reported in 2024 (which is a rise of 133% over the annual rate in the past 20 years.
Dentists play a crucial role in the early detection of oral cancer. However, missed diagnoses can lead to delayed treatment and lower survival rates, making for an extreme form of dental negligence. If a dentist’s failure to diagnose, treat or provide the appropriate aftercare advice leads to further health complications, you may have grounds to pursue a dental negligence claim.
If you’ve encountered dental negligence and it’s led to systemic disease caused by poor dental hygiene, you may be eligible to make a claim. To find out whether we can process your claim, please speak to our experienced team or request a callback here.