Keeping your mouth healthy helps prevent not only dental problems, but also some systemic illnesses that can affect your whole body. In much the same way as proper nutrition and overall health can help you maintain good dental health, keeping your teeth and mouth clean and healthy can help keep your body in good shape. Recent discoveries in dentistry even indicate that proper oral care can reduce the risk of circulatory problems such as heart disease.
How Does My Dental Health Affect My Overall Health?
Many dental issues begin with a buildup of bacteria in the mouth. This includes tooth decay, gum disease, and even seemingly minor issues such as bad breath. Bacteria in the mouth can easily migrate elsewhere in the body, where it can cause inflammation or even chronic infection. Recent studies indicate that bacteria that migrate from the mouth can lead to inflammation in the circulatory system, leading in turn to atherosclerosis and even heart disease. This is especially true with those who suffer from chronic, severe gum disease.
Other problems in the mouth can lead to serious side effects if they are not treated promptly. A decayed tooth can spread infection into the sinuses and even into the brain, leading to serious brain injury, permanent brain trauma, or even death.
Maintaining Your Dental Health
Because of the sometimes severe consequences of letting your dental health slide, it is important to take daily oral hygiene seriously. Be sure to brush and floss regularly to remove bacteria from the surfaces of your teeth. If you find you are susceptible to chronic bad breath, add cleaning your tongue to your regular regimen to reduce bacterial buildup on this large surface. Visit the dentist on a regular basis according to his recommendations. These visits are important because your dentist will often be able to find signs of developing issues well before symptoms arise.
To be sure you keep your mouth healthy—and by extension the rest of your body—please call the Yorkville office of Dr. Nicholas Kemp to schedule an appointment. Call us at 416-922-1012 and we’ll be sure your teeth and mouth are as healthy as they can be.