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3 Ways Good Oral Health Affects the Rest of Your Body
When you think about oral health, you may primarily think about brushing, flossing and getting a regular hygiene treatment from your dentist.
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These are steps that you may take to keep your teeth and gums healthy for a beautiful smile. They can potentially prevent cavities, reduce the signs of discoloration or staining and more.
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While it is true that these steps have cosmetic benefits, you should also be aware that they can play a major role in your total body health in different ways.
1. Bone Health
When cavities and gum disease are serious, losing permanent teeth becomes a very realistic possibility. Healthy tooth roots anchored in your facial bones are necessary to maintain bone structure and health. When the roots are not present, the bones can deteriorate, causing significant issues throughout your facial bones.
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Dental implants are used to replace roots and to prevent some of the facial bone damage that may otherwise be experienced if you have experienced tooth loss. In the case of wisdom teeth, you won’t need implants, but you should still consult with an oral surgeon like those at Oral Surgery Associates Inc. to find the best course of treatment.
2. Infections
When your teeth and gums are in poor condition, the risk of infection increases. This is not always only a localized infection, and the bacteria and other germs can spread throughout the body to cause more significant problems.
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In fact, gum disease has been tied to very serious health issues, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, some types of arthritis and more. Identifying the presence of infections and treating them soon may yield a more positive and healthy outcome.
3. Serious Health Conditions
When you visit your dental professional regularly, the dentist may be able to identify some of the signs of underlying health conditions. While some conditions are actually caused by poor dental hygiene, others may have symptoms that are evidenced through rotting or decaying teeth, bleeding or swollen gums and more.
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Diabetes is one condition that may result in symptoms that may be noticeable throughout your mouth. If your dentist notices signs of an underlying health condition, you can head to your general medical doctor for a checkup and a potential diagnosis.
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Remember that early diagnosis and treatment of some health conditions can result in a better prognosis. Sometimes it is as simple as changing your food habits.
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Oral hygiene does significantly impact your cosmetic appearance, but you can see that it also affects total body health.
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A great way to determine the condition of your teeth and gums is to schedule a regular hygiene appointment with your dentist at least twice each year. If you have not had a dental hygiene appointment recently, now is an excellent time to schedule an appointment.
Post by Brooke Chaplan
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Brooke is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors, and spends most of her time hiking, biking and gardening.
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For more information, contact Brooke via Twitter. @BrookeChaplan
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