We all know how important keeping our teeth and oral cavity clean is. Brushing and flossing are a part of our daily routine and are just as vital as the regular dental appointments. Having poor dental hygiene can have a huge impact on your teeth and on our overall health. Yes, you heard me. Latest researches prove the connection between the oral health or the lack of it and your general body health.
Symptoms Of Poor Oral Hygiene
If you don’t pay attention to the symptoms you find yourself in much bigger problems. Bad breath and yellow teeth are first to appear and only two of the many signs. Other most common symptoms are swollen and bleeding gums, increased gum sensitivity, irritated gums, bad taste in your mouth, tooth pain, and decay.
Healthy Teeth
The first and obvious reason is to keep your teeth healthy. Preventative dental care together with the regular brushing and flossing will help you to keep your gums and teeth healthy.
Disease Detection
Taking care of your teeth and oral hygiene is the first and the most important step on the road of keeping your teeth healthy. Besides the brushing and the flossing that will allow you to closely monitor the health of your gums (notice when they are swollen, bleeding, or sensitive) you must visit your dentist every six months.
If you are wondering why there is an answer to every question. Your dentist has the ability to foresee beyond your cavities and discover the early stages of much more serious diseases. Through the common examination, they can discover a variety of problems such as acid reflux, vitamin deficiencies, diabetes, heart problems, dementia, osteoporosis, tooth grinding, and oral cancers.
Disease Prevention
If you do ignore the first warning signs although you have noticed them you will fail to prevent the infections that start in your mouth but have the tendency to develop into more serious conditions. There is a logical explanation- if you have even the simplest bacteria in your mouth, it can find its way into your bloodstream through the damaged gums and if you do have a weakened immune system it may cause development to another infection in another location/organ of your body. For example, a simple gingivitis can turn into periodontitis that can ultimately lead to a tooth loss.
Or even more significant and dramatic example is the one when a simple oral bacteria causes an infective endocarditis that can even further cause damage to the already weakened heart. Now, thankfully it is proven and we can take precautions against all of the similar infections that are linked to complications as arthritis, asthma, respiratory problems, strokes, and coronary artery diseases.
You must be shocked. Breathe for a second, take it all in. It`s better to be safe than sorry. You can now see the importance of proper dental hygiene and the problems that can be caused by the lack of it. Besides the regular check-ups, brushing and flossing, you must also be cautious when it comes to choosing what to eat.
Try to avoid sugary snacks and tobacco products as much as possible.
Try to regularly rinse off your mouth after meals and brush them at least twice a day.
Don’t forget to regularly have dental exams.