The state of our oral health influences every part of our lives, but it is often overlooked. The health of your mouth reveals the health of your entire body. It is possible that systemic diseases that affect the whole body may first appear as mouth sores or other oral disorders.
The mouth contains lots of bacteria, mostly harmless. However, some of the bacteria in your mouth can indeed enter your digestive and respiratory tracts, where they can cause disease. Oral health is crucial for everyone, no matter their age. Get a dentist in your city to whom you can have regular check-ups. For instance, if you are in Calgary, opt for senior dental care in Calgary, who will follow up for appointments to keep your oral health in good condition.
Brushing and flossing your teeth daily is usually enough to keep bacteria under control in the mouth. Consequences of poor oral hygiene will be tooth decay and gum disease, increasing your risks for other health problems.
Before we dwell on the hygiene part, let us begin with understanding basics of the oral health.
What is Oral Health?
Good oral health means a mouth with healthy gums, strong teeth, neutral breath, and a neat tongue. The practise of keeping one’s mouth clean and healthy, from teeth to gums, is known as oral hygiene. Its primary objective is to aid in preventing oral illnesses like tooth decay and gum disease. Also, saliva in your mouth works to heal wounds and diminish certain pathogens. Good oral hygiene means good salivary production. Antibodies and the alkaline ph. level maintained by healthy saliva reduce bacterial growth and prevent harmful infections. This way, oral health can keep certain bacterial diseases at bay.
You may improve your oral health by practising good dental hygiene routines. For that, one needs to visit a dentist who can provide excellent dental care on a regular basis. By maintaining good oral hygiene, one can improve general health, quality of life, and well-being.
How poor oral health contributes to a variety of health problems?
Bleeding gums:
Of the many health issues, you will have bleeding gums which may is a blood-related disorder.
Endocarditis:
Blood infected with bacteria or germs from another part of your body, such as your mouth, then travels to particular parts of your heart, causing an endocarditis infection.
Ailments of the cardiovascular system. Even if the link is not entirely understood, some studies suggest that inflammation and infections caused by oral bacteria are associated with heart disease, clogged arteries, and stroke. Usually, cardiovascular disease occurs in older adults; thus, you should visit a dental clinic with appropriate senior dental care.
Complications during pregnancy:
Obstetric and neonatal problems might occur due to poor oral health. Studies have proved a connection between periodontitis and prematurity and low weight at birth. Thus, it is best to go for teeth cleaning in your second trimester; this will keep periodontal issues at bay. There are benefits of family dentist, especially during your pregnancy, as they will consider your overall health before an appointment. For instance, a pregnant woman will get teeth cleaning services about maintaining oral hygiene.
Pneumonia:
Healthy gums are key to lowering the risk of respiratory infection and pneumonia. These infections occur when harmful bacteria related to periodontal disease spread to the respiratory tract. Thus, pneumonia and other respiratory disorders can be caused by germs in your mouth.
Oropharyngeal cancer:
Poor oral hygiene or tobacco habit causes damage to oral tissues; sometimes, damage can also extend to the pharynx region. As a result, a person may have cancer of the oropharyngeal area.
Good oral hygiene prevents many diseases from occurring, but it also helps reduce the severity of certain conditions. Your oral health also shows signs of systemic illness and by which doctor can make you aware about the disease.
Diabetes:
Diabetes puts your gums in danger since it decreases the body’s resistance to infection. People with diabetes appear to have a higher risk of developing gum infections.
Also, gum disease has been linked to a higher risk of diabetes. Regular periodontal treatment may provide improvement in diabetic conditions.
HIV/AIDS: People with HIV/AIDS are more likely to suffer from oral issues, such as painful mucosal sores. This is how one can detect the systemic problem early.
Osteoporosis:
Periodontal bone loss and tooth loss are associated with this bone-weakening condition. A small number of medications used to treat osteoporosis may cause bone loss in the jaw. Also, Rheumatoid arthritis cause pain in jaw joints, which may give the sign of arthritis early.
Eating disorders, some malignancies, and Sjogren’s syndrome, an immune system ailment that produces dry mouth, are all connections between oral health and other health issues.
Most of the illness appears at an elder age. Thus, old age people must maintain good oral hygiene. Due to old age and physical condition, sometimes aged people ignore oral hygiene, but they are the one who needs excellent oral hygiene for better health. In Calgary, excellent senior dental care is provided at the port dental clinic. Here, experts understand the need for good oral hygiene for older people and utmost care and love.
Now we know how much bad oral health can damage systemic health, one should take care of oral health. One of the best ways to ensure such systemic care is to follow a strict dental regime that helps avoid all the issues mentioned above.
Here are some of the ways to implement dental hygiene
- Do regular brushing and flossing
- Avoid tobacco and smoking
- Attend oral health programs
- Regularly visit your dentist
- Do not ignore any sign or symptoms your mouth shows
- Use mouthwash.
- Replace toothbrush every three to four-month or when bristles are worn
- Choose a healthy diet and reduce sugary diet
- Regularly floss your teeth after every meal
In a nutshell
There is no denying it — the mouth and the bodies are the same. Any illness in your body can affect oral health, and likewise, your oral health can affect your body. According to studies, a disease-free life may sound impossible; however, you can extend your life expectancy if you maintain good oral hygiene. To keep your teeth and gums healthy, visit our dental clinic in Calgary, where utmost care is provided along with safety.