Health

Breaking Down the Full-Body Benefits of Good Oral Hygiene

When you brush and floss your teeth, you do it for more reasons than just having a sparkling smile and fresh breath.

It’s no secret that your mouth is connected to the rest of your body. From oral bacteria affecting your heart to gingivitis influencing blood sugar levels, oral health should matter to every parent and family.

Here’s the crazy part…

Many of these conditions can be prevented with good habits and regular checkups from your dentist.

Mouth Health Affects the Entire Body

Your mouth is the gateway to your body.

What you put into it and what lives inside of it can have major impacts on your overall health. Bacteria from not brushing and flossing properly can spread past your teeth and gums. In turn, it can affect your organs via the bloodstream.

Did you know?

Poor oral health and diseases of the mouth are some of the most common conditions in the world. The World Health Organization estimates that 3.5 billion people worldwide suffer from oral diseases. Yet, people often don’t think of oral health as being connected to overall health.

And they couldn’t be more wrong.

A great family dentist will tell you that your mouth is one of the easiest places to care for in order to keep your whole body healthy. That’s why finding a top dentist in Henderson who specializes in family and preventative dental care is so important.

Your mouth contains bacteria – both good and bad. When you don’t keep up with brushing and flossing regularly, that “bad” bacteria can grow rampant and lead to infections. Gum disease is one such infection that happens when bacteria in the mouth causes swelling and inflammation to your gums.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Once inflammation occurs, this irritation can move from your mouth to affect other parts of your body.

Oral Health and Heart Disease

When it comes to your mouth affecting other parts of your body, heart disease is perhaps the most well-known consequence of poor oral hygiene.

Medical studies have found a correlation between gum disease and heart conditions. The American Heart Association released a scientific statement that periodontitis increases your risk of heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure.

But how does your mouth affect your heart?

Scientists believe that bacteria can enter the blood stream when you have gum disease. This can cause inflammation in your body, including your blood vessels. The continuous build-up of inflammation can lead to plaque accumulation in your arteries.

Yikes.

Not only that, but studies show that you are two to three times more likely to experience a major cardiovascular event if you have gum disease. Harvard Health agrees with this statistic.

Simply put: brushing and flossing help more than your teeth. They can help keep your heart healthy as well.

Regular checkups from your dentist are one of the best ways to prevent gum disease. Your family dentist can help you take care of any issues with your gums before they get worse.

Gum Disease Linked to Diabetes

Gum disease can cause problems for your heart, but did you know it can also affect your blood sugar?

Diabetes and gum disease can go hand in hand. People with diabetes are prone to get infections, like gum disease. But there’s an interesting link the other way too.

If you have gum disease, it may cause your body to have a harder time controlling your blood sugar.

Why? Inflammation caused by gum disease can impact your body’s resistance to insulin. When you don’t have good oral health, you are putting yourself at risk for diabetes and vice versa.

The best way to fight this is by visiting your dentist regularly. Taking care of your mouth and cleaning your teeth will ensure you catch any gum infections early on.

Importance of Preventive Care for Kids & Families

Establishing good oral habits for your family is crucial, and the sooner you start, the better.

Kids who experience tooth decay and oral infections at a young age can be susceptible to health problems in the future. In fact, poor oral health in children has been connected to heart problems later in adulthood.

That’s why the basics are so important.

Brushing twice a day, flossing nightly, and visiting your dentist every six months can do wonders for your oral health. Cutting out drinks and snacks high in sugar will also improve your chances of preventing oral diseases.

It may sound simple, but too many families skip these steps. Once your family learns good dental habits, you can prevent the need for costly and extensive dental work later on.

This is where your family dentist comes in.

By going to the same dental practice, your whole family can benefit from your dentist knowing your dental history. Not only that, but if you follow good oral hygiene at home, you can ensure you’re eligible for cosmetic dental procedures in the future. (Like teeth whitening!)

Daily Habits That Help Your Whole Body

Brushing your teeth twice a day doesn’t have to be an expensive or time-consuming routine.

By simply following best practices, you can improve your oral hygiene and better your whole body’s health. Along with brushing and flossing, take note of these tips to keep your mouth healthy:

Drink plenty of water. Water helps clean your mouth after meals.
Keep up with dental appointments. Sometimes people go to the dentist when something feels wrong, but it’s important to go every 6 months to catch problems before they start.
Replace your toothbrush often. When the bristles on your toothbrush become frayed, they aren’t doing you any good.
Pay attention to changes. If you notice that your teeth are more sensitive than usual, or you have persistent bad breath that won’t go away, make sure you speak to your dentist. These could be signs of an underlying issue.

The hardest part about good oral care is making it habitual.

But the benefits do not only apply to your teeth and gums. By maintaining healthy dental habits at home, you can protect yourself from heart disease, high blood sugar, and more.

Wrap Up

You should take care of your teeth and gums for more than just appearances.

Not only does good oral hygiene promote healthy teeth, but it can also prevent major diseases that happen in other parts of the body. By understanding how gum disease affects your body, you can take steps to prevent it:

Brush and floss regularly.
Don’t skip your semi-annual dentist appointment.
Listen to what your dentist has to say. If they notice something off with your oral health, take their advice.
Practice good oral care as a family – that way everyone wins!

Keeping up with your oral hygiene is one of the least expensive things you can do to maintain your overall health. As long as you make yourself comfortable at the dentist’s office and take good care of your mouth at home, you’re well on your way to your family having a lifetime of healthy smiles.