A lot of people don’t visit the dentist often and some have never visited a dentist.
Taking good care of your oral health is a great goal to set and follow as good oral health can prevent tooth decay, bad breath, and gum disease.
According to recent research, having a healthy mouth helps you fend off medical disorders. Having an unhealthy mouth increases your chances of suffering from health problems like heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and preterm labor.
Here are 8 reasons why your dental care is important:
- Healthy Gums for a Healthy Heart
Research has linked oral inflammatory heart disease and elevated heart disease risk. According to research by the Canadian Academy of Periodontology, people who suffer from periodontal disease are at a much higher risk of suffering from a severe heart attack.
Gum disease is caused by an extended amount of exposure to bacteria which can lead to cardiovascular disease as this increases the level of inflammation in your body. You should schedule regular checkups as well as tracing your family history for any health problems.
- A Healthy Mouth Leads to a Healthy Pregnancy
Simply examining your mouth or some of your saliva can tell your doctor a lot about what’s going on in your body.
Regular checkups with your dentist and hygienist become a lot more important during a time of pregnancy. Research by Health Canada, states that pregnant women who have poor oral health are more likely to deliver pre-term babies than pregnant women who have good oral health.
Babies that are born pre-term stand a much higher chance of suffering from complications and developmental problems as well as facing higher chances of infant death. Women who are pregnant should try to keep their teeth in good condition as their oral health affects their babies as well.
- Straight Teeth Lead to Better Oral Health
Straight teeth allow you to bite, chew and speak clearly. Straight and properly aligned teeth are much easier to clean. Straight teeth also prevent jaw problems and reduce the wear and tear of the enamel on your teeth.
- Avoid Oral Cancer
Most if not all dentists are trained to do a cancer screening as part of their dental checkup routine.
The symptoms of oral cancer can be found in the form of a precancerous lesion which starts off as a small white or dark red patch that may not have any effects on you immediately. Dentists have been trained to provide you with lifesaving early detection. Only about half of all patients who have been detected with having oral cancer survived for more than five years, so discovering any early signs of the disease is very important.
- Preventing Gum Disease
Proper brushing and flossing goes a long way towards keeping gum disease at bay. Removing plaque is important to preventing gum disease and improving your mouth health.
You can schedule a professional cleaning with your dentist at least twice a year as early stage gum disease can be treated before it leads to a more serious condition.
If gum disease happens to be more advanced then scaling and root planning can be carried out to treat diseased periodontal pockets and gum infection. Laser treatments are also used to remove deposits of tartar.
- Maintaining Your White, Bright Smile
Your mouth is the window into what’s going on in the rest of your body, as well as being a sign of good health. Regular brushing and flossing will keep your teeth looking white, bright and shiny.
- Avoid Bad Breath
If you think that you have bad breath then you can conduct a simple test by licking the inside of your wrist and sniffing it, if the smell is bad then you can be pretty sure that your breath is too.
Bad breath is usually caused by the foul gases released by the bacteria that coat your gums, teeth and tongue. Some foods also get trapped between your teeth and rot, giving off an unpleasant smell. Eating strong-tasting foods like onions and garlic can further add to this problem. This makes it all the more important to brush and floss your teeth regularly as this will keep your breath smelling fresh. Smoking also creates bad breath and irritates your gums so it is best to stop smoking.
Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day. Brushing alone, cleans about 60% of the surface area of your teeth. You can also clean between the rest of your teeth and also use mouthwash to clean those hard-to-reach spots. Chewing sugar-free gum also helps your mouth produce saliva and prevent it from drying out and leading to bad breath.
- Avoid Diabetes
Control your blood sugar levels. Use your diabetes-related medications as directed, switching to a healthier diet and even working out can help. Good blood sugar control will help your body fight against any bacterial or fungal infections in your mouth and help relieve dry mouth caused by diabetes. Make sure to brush and floss regularly for this though.
If you don’t already have enough reasons to take care of your teeth, gums, and mouth, the relationship between your oral health and your overall health gives, even more, reason to do so.
Author Bio:
Emily Taylor found the perfect fit for herself as the Online Marketing Manager at Thurman Orthodontics in Fresno CA as she believes that a great smile does more than just make a person look great – it makes them feel great as well. The power of a smile has always been a mystery to Emily and she loves researching and writing about it. She loves to write about everything to do with a healthy bite and a beautiful smile – whether is it ways to achieve it or the importance of it in the various aspects of life. What brings a big smile on Emily’s face is her family and surfing. She also likes to bake and her children and co-workers call her the cookie fairy!