How Your Dental Health Impacts You

Did you know that good dental health is correlated to good general health? Your dental health is more important for your overall health than you may realize. Regular checkups with your dentist can keep your dental health as well as your body health in check. So, how exactly are the two connected?

 

Dental and Body Health

Your mouth contains approximately six million bacteria. However, according to researchers, most bacteria are not harmful. However, if you stop cleaning and flossing your teeth regularly, the bacteria will grow over time and begin causing issues such as tooth decay and gum disease.

 

Your body’s immune system can usually regulate these bacteria when you maintain good dental hygiene. But with bad dental hygiene, the bacteria can enter into your blood and transfer to more parts of your body.

 

Over 90 percent of diseases involving the body have oral symptoms that increase the severity of the disease. The oral symptoms caused by these diseases often bring about poor dental health. Such diseases or conditions include the following:

 

Diabetes

As a lifelong illness that has several triggers, a person with diabetes can ultimately develop gum disease. This is because the body is too weak to fight it. Studies reveal that people with diabetes are more prone to develop and suffer more serious gum disease than people without diabetes. Some studies show that gum disease can make it harder for a person with diabetes to control his or her blood sugar.

 

HIV/AIDS

People with HIV/AIDS can develop oral issues such as cuts and scratches on their mouth.

 

Heart Disease

Researchers link the chronic swelling from gum disease to heart disease. The swelling can contribute to complications such as blocked arteries, endocarditis, and strokes.

 

Cancer

Poor dental and oral hygiene can trigger leukemia, mouth cancer, and other types of cancers. When detected, cancer should be treated right away.

 

Osteoporosis

Gum disease makes your teeth and jawbone fragile. This can make them vulnerable to cracks and breakage and may result in the loss of teeth and jawbone.

 

What Can You Do?

Considering the connection between your dental health and your overall body health, prevention may be important in keeping you healthy. Here’s what you can do:

 

• Brush your teeth thoroughly twice every day. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles to clean your teeth and gums. Also, use floss or any other type of cleaner that can clean in between your teeth to remove any food particles stuck there. Doing this at least once a day is necessary, but twice is ideal
  
   

• Your dentist may suggest using an antibacterial mouthwash as part of your daily dental hygiene practice
  
   

• Reduce your snack and sugar intake and eat healthy and balanced meals to lower your risk of getting tooth decay and gum disease
  
   

• Visit your dentist regularly for routine dental checkups and professional teeth cleanings. You can also go to get rid of plaque and tartar along your gumline
  
   

To learn more about how your dental health impacts you, visit Rudell Gary Jacinto, DMD, General and Cosmetic Dentistry, at our office in Los Angeles, California. You can also call (323) 405-9428 today to book an appointment.