How Oral and Vision Health Affect Your Overall Wellbeing: Why Regular Dental and Eye Exams Matter
As veterinarians, we’re accustomed to advocating preventive care for our patients. But in the demanding world of veterinary medicine—where our focus is often on others’ health—it’s easy to overlook the importance of routine care for ourselves.
Beyond keeping your teeth and eyes in great shape, regular dental and vision exams play a crucial role in maintaining overall health. They’re key to spotting early signs of chronic issues such as diabetes, hypertension, and even heart disease.
The Mouth-Body Connection: Three Health Conditions That Can Be Directly Connected to Your Oral Health
Research shows that problems with your teeth and gums can be linked to broader health issues such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even oral cancer.
- Cardiovascular Disease: Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is directly linked to cardiovascular disease. Bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream, causing arteries to harden and elevating the risk of heart attack or stroke. Regular dental exams help identify and treat gum disease early, reducing the chances of these complications.
- Diabetes: People with diabetes are more prone to gum disease, infections, and slower wound healing in the mouth. Dentists can often spot early signs of diabetes in patients who have recurrent gum issues, persistent bad breath, or other oral symptoms. Because gum disease can make blood sugar levels more difficult to control, catching it early is key to managing diabetes effectively.
- Oral Cancer: Routine dental exams include screenings for oral cancer, which is vital as early-stage oral cancer is often asymptomatic and difficult to detect without a professional exam. The sooner oral cancer is identified, the better the outcome, which makes regular visits essential.
Regular dental visits along with proper oral hygiene practices may help prevent oral diseases such as cavities, periodontal (gum) disease, and oral cancer.1
The Eyes as Windows to Your Health
Just as dental exams reveal valuable insights about your overall health, eye exams can alert doctors to underlying issues such as hypertension, diabetes, and neurological disorders.
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): An eye exam can reveal high blood pressure through signs like narrowed or leaking blood vessels in the retina. These visual indicators of hypertension allow for early intervention, reducing the risk of more severe complications such as heart disease or stroke.
- Diabetes: Diabetic retinopathy, a condition caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the blood vessels in the retina, is often detected during routine eye exams. This condition can lead to blindness if left untreated, making regular eye exams essential for anyone at risk of or managing diabetes.
- Neurological Health: Optometrists can sometimes identify signs of neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis and certain brain tumors, by observing changes in the optic nerve or unusual eye movements. Because of this, eye exams serve as an early warning system for neurological health.
Did you know? The eyes are the only part of the body where doctors can directly view blood vessels without the need for an invasive procedure.2
Invest in Your Long-Term Wellbeing: Prioritize Your Preventative Health
The veterinary field can be physically demanding and emotionally taxing. Taking the time for regular dental and vision check-ups is an investment in your long-term wellbeing, enabling you to stay healthy and focused on your passion for animal care. Just as we prioritize preventive health in our patients, we must extend the same consideration to ourselves.
AVMA LIFE makes it easy to get the care you need. With dental and vision insurance plans available through Delta Dental of Illinois,* you have access to a full range of services designed to support your oral and eye health as well as your overall wellbeing.
To find out more about dental and vision insurance available through AVMA LIFE—including coverage, features, costs, eligibility, renewability, limitations, and exclusions—visit our website or give us a call at (800) 621-6360.
1“About Oral Health.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 May 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/about/index.html
2”What do your eyes say about your overall health?” PeaceHealth.org, 4 April 2023. https://www.peacehealth.org/healthy-you/what-do-your-eyes-say-about-your-overall-health
Delta Dental of Illinois is one of 39 member companies that make up the Delta Dental system. Delta Dental member companies cover more than one third of all Americans with dental insurance, and Delta Dental of Illinois covers more than 2 million across the country.
*DeltaVision is provided by ProTec Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Dental, in association with EyeMed Vision Care networks.
