译者 wood5066
Oral health: A window to your overall health
口腔健康：全身健康的一扇窗
Your oral health is more important than you may realize. Get the facts about how the health of your mouth, teeth and gums may affect your general health.
口腔健康也许比你意识到的更为重要，来了解一下口腔、牙齿和牙龈状况会如何影响全身健康吧。
By Mayo Clinic staff
Did you know that your oral health can offer clues about your overall health? Or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body? Understand the intimate connection between oral health and overall health and what you can do to protect yourself.
你知道吗？口腔健康状况能够为全身健康状况提供线索，而口腔问题能够给身体其他部位带来影响。来了解一下口腔健康和全身健康之间的密切关联，学习如何保护好自己吧。
What's the connection between oral health and overall health?
口腔健康和全身健康有何关联？
Your mouth is teeming with bacteria — most of them harmless. Normally the body's natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, can keep these bacteria under control. However, harmful bacteria can sometimes grow out of control and cause oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. In addition, dental procedures, medications, or treatments that reduce saliva flow, disrupt the normal balance of bacteria in your mouth or breach the mouth's normal protective barriers may make it easier for bacteria to enter your bloodstream.
口腔里有许多细菌——大部分是无害的。正常情况下，身体固有的防御机制和良好的口腔卫生保健，例如日常刷牙和使用牙线，能够控制细菌生长。不过，有害菌群有时会不受控制，大量繁殖而导致口腔感染性疾病，诸如龋病和牙周疾病。此外，牙科手术、用药或者唾液流速降低会打破口腔菌群的正常平衡，或者破坏口腔正常的保护屏障，进而可能使细菌更容易进入血流。
What conditions may be linked to oral health?
什么疾病状况可能与口腔健康状况相关？
Your oral health may affect, be affected by or contribute to various diseases and conditions, including:
口腔问题可能影响或引发各种疾病或身体不良状况，反过来，疾病和其他身体状况也会影响口腔健康，包括：
Endocarditis. Gum disease and dental procedures that cut your gums may allow bacteria to enter your bloodstream. If you have a weak immune system or a damaged heart valve, this can cause infection in other parts of the body — such as an infection of the inner lining of the heart (endocarditis).
心内膜炎。牙周疾病和包含牙龈切开的牙科治疗可能使细菌进入血流。如果你免疫力低下或者心脏瓣膜受损，那么进入血流的细菌能够感染身体的其他部位——例如引起心脏内膜的感染（心内膜炎）。
Cardiovascular disease. Some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke may be linked to oral bacteria, possibly due to chronic inflammation from periodontitis — a severe form of gum disease.
心血管疾病。一些研究表明心脏病、动脉血栓和中风可能与口腔细菌相关，可能是由于牙周炎引起了慢性炎症——牙周炎是一种十分严重的牙周疾病。
Pregnancy and birth. Gum disease has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
妊娠和分娩。牙周疾病与早产和低出生体重相关。
Diabetes. Diabetes reduces the body's resistance to infection — putting the gums at risk. In addition, people who have inadequate blood sugar control may develop more-frequent and severe infections of the gums and the bone that holds teeth in place, and they may lose more teeth than do people who have good blood sugar control.
糖尿病。糖尿病降低了身体对感染的抵抗力——增加牙龈受感染的风险。血糖控制不好的人牙龈和牙槽骨可能受感染的次数更频繁，情况也更严重，而且失牙数量也可能比血糖控制良好者更多。
HIV/AIDS. Oral problems, such as painful mucosal lesions, are common in people who have HIV/AIDS.
获得性免疫缺陷综合征/艾滋病。口腔问题，例如疼痛性粘膜病损，在艾滋病患者中很常见。
Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis — which causes bones to become weak and brittle — may be associated with periodontal bone loss and tooth loss.
骨质疏松症。骨质疏松症——能使骨头变得脆弱易折——可能与牙周骨丧失和失牙有关。（译者：是指骨质疏松症患者发生牙周病时牙周骨丧失更为严重，也更易失牙。）
Alzheimer's disease. Tooth loss before age 35 may be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.
老年痴呆症。35岁之前失牙可能是诱发老年痴呆症的危险因子。
Other conditions. Other conditions that may be linked to oral health include Sjogren's syndrome — an immune system disorder — and eating disorders.
其他。其他疾病状况也可能与口腔健康相关，包括舍格伦综合征（一种自身免疫性疾病）还包括饮食紊乱症。
Be sure to tell your dentist if you're taking any medications or have had any changes in your overall health — especially if you've had any recent illnesses or you have a chronic condition.
如果你正在服用药物或者全身健康状况发生了改变——特别是最近的患病情况，或者慢性疾病状况，一定要把这些情况告知你的牙医。
How can I protect my oral health?
如何保持口腔健康？
To protect your oral health, resolve to practice good oral hygiene every day. For example:
想保持口腔健康，就要坚持良好的日常口腔护理，例如：
Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
每天至少刷牙两次。
Replace your toothbrush every three to four months.
三到四个月换一次牙刷。
Floss daily.
每天使用牙线。
Eat a healthy diet and limit between-meal snacks.
保持健康饮食，限制餐间零食。
Schedule regular dental checkups.
定期安排牙科检查。
Also, watch for signs and symptoms of oral disease and contact your dentist as soon as a problem arises. Remember, taking care of your oral health is an investment in your overall health.
同时，要警惕口腔疾病的症状和体征，出现问题及时联系牙医。记住，关注口腔健康是对全身健康的投资。
