How Oral Care Affects Overall Health

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Today I wanted to share a guest post on something that makes me itch just thinking about it. Teeth. Oral health in particular, and how it can affect your overall health. It’ll make you want to grab your toothbrush & make that dental appointment you’ve been putting off… Not necessarily fun to think about, but important nonetheless. Enjoy!

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Oral Health Can Affect General Health

Keeping your teeth and gums healthy is more than just having a nice smile. Every organ in the human body is interconnected and so is your mouth. Performing adequate oral care means that your immune system and overall health won’t be damaged. Likewise, a poor dental routine can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria and inflammation which might show the result in your mouth or in a completely different part of your body, such as your heart or even your brain.

Remember, it is always easier and better to prevent than to fix, as not all problems are fixable. Below we have listed some of the most relevant problems produced by lack of proper dental care but also how to prevent them.

Respiratory Issues

One of the first systems to show the effect of poor dental care, apart from the teeth and gums themselves, is the respiratory system. Respiratory and digestion system share some of the passageways and consequently influence each other. Saliva carrying the bad bacteria can cause inflammation in your lungs. By also lowering your immune system, the bacteria can prevent lungs and the rest of the respiratory system from fighting back. 

Cardiovascular Problems

Apart from respiratory issues, even your heart and other parts of your cardiovascular system can be in danger from improper dental hygiene.  Mouth is a home to various types of bacteria and with lack of care, the harmful ones can enter your bloodstream. They can cause arteries to clog but also they can end up in various parts of your body including your heart. By keeping your gums and teeth healthy, you can significantly lower the chance of stroke and other possible heart-related issues.

Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Respiratory and cardiovascular systems are only two of few which can be influenced by poor oral hygiene. Actually, continuous research has shown relations between Alzheimer’s disease and a bacteria typically found in gum infections. It seems that body’s response to the said bacteria in the brain causes problems on the cognitive level, which we link to dementia and similar conditions.

Diabetes

Every organ can be influenced by inadequate hygiene of your teeth, and your lungs, heart and your brain are just some of them. Even diabetes has been linked to gum diseases and it seems to be a vicious circle. People living with diabetes are more prone to gum infections, research shows, but also continuous poor cleaning routine of the teeth and mouth can further worsen diabetes.

Proper Care

Good cleaning routine and regular self-check-ups together with professional ones are enough to prevent most of these conditions. The cleaning routine includes:

• Brushing teeth properly twice a day
• Flossing daily

As check-ups go, you can use some handy supplements like Caredent disclosing tablets which color your teeth temporarily and you can see clearly what your problem areas are when brushing and even possible places where cavities can occur. An annual visit to your dentist is always the right course of action, even if you don’t have any pains or problems. It is always best to check and possibly fix problems before they get out of hand.

Oral hygiene is much more important than you might have previously believed. Good cleaning habits can save not only your teeth and gums but also your overall health. If your oral care is not at the top of its game, you should definitely reconsider it. There is little that can be done when the bacteria from the mouth enter another part of the body and when the symptoms start showing. Prevention is always the best choice and it is easier than it seems.

Author Bio :

Helen Bradford is a journalism student who always seeks new ideas to write about.

[ This is a guest post and as such the ideas and opinions expressed are of the writer ]