Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a general term for inherited disorders that affect the connective tissues of your body. The connective tissue, which is responsible for the strength and elasticity of body structures, include things like joints, skin, and walls of blood vessels. These disorders will also affect your oral health in several ways such as:

Loose Teeth

If you have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, then the connective tissues that hold your teeth together, things like the jawbone and the cartilage, are likely to be weak. This means that your teeth are not as strong as they would be without the disorder. As such, your tooth can become loose, for example, due to a moderate physical trauma that would not weaken another person's tooth. In fact, this is one of the causes of sudden loose teeth.

Therefore, you need to take precautions before engaging in activities that expose your body to physical trauma. For example, wearing a mouth guard before engaging in physical sports is not an option – it's a necessity.

Difficulties with Orthodontic Treatments

The fact that you have weak bones may make it difficult for you to undergo some orthodontic treatments. For example, the risk of dental implant failure is high if your bones are weak. In many cases, you will need specialized orthodontics that will not over-irritate your oral tissues.

Ease of Bleeding

As hinted in the introduction, this disorder weakens the linings of your blood vessels. Therefore, your gums may bleed easily at the slightest irritation. This also means that dental treatments that irritate your tissues, such as tooth extraction, will result in more bleeding than usual. Tell your dentist about your condition so that he or she can take appropriate measures to deal with the bleeding. 

Delayed Healing

All the above factors mean that your oral/dental treatments may not heal as fast as they should. Fragile blood vessels, teeth that loosen easily, and prolonged bleeding do not make a good recipe for heightened healing. Therefore, it's important to follow your dentist's instructions to the letter each time you undergo dental surgery.

Everybody should observe a high level of oral hygiene, but it is even more important for those living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. It is in your best interest to ward off any illness that may end in an oral surgeon's care. It's also advisable to consult your dentist even for seemingly minor dental ailments; it would not be wise to rely on home treatments if you have the disorder. 

For professional dental care, contact a dentist such as Hughes Thomas R.