The mouth does not exist on its own. It is a part of the body just like any other and when the mouth is unhealthy, it can influence and worsen other medical conditions in patients. There are many studies that show poor oral health can worsen conditions such as diabetes. One study emailed to me recently dealt with periodontitis (bone loss around teeth) and hypertension (high blood pressure). The findings were published in Cardiovascular Research which is a journal of European Society of Cardiology and essentially the study found that patients who had more significant periodontitis faced increased risk of hypertension. More and more studies show oral health has an influence on overall health. This is yet another reason to visit your dentist for your regular checkups and prevent tooth damage!