This June is Oral Health Month, making it the best time to learn about why taking care of your teeth and gums every day is so important for your smile as well as for your overall health. While everybody’s guilty of forgetting to brush or floss on occasion, doing this regularly can impact your wellbeing, which is why it’s a good idea to have a strict oral health routine in place. By never putting the health of your teeth and gums on the backburner, you’ll also be taking care of your body. Read on to learn three ways that declining oral health can affect your overall wellbeing and quality of life.
Preserving Your Natural Teeth Because You Only Get One Set
One of the biggest benefits of maintaining good oral hygiene is that you’ll likely be able to preserve your natural teeth for longer. Tooth loss is a common problem in the United States. In fact, the American College of Prosthodontists stated that over 40 million adults have lost all of their teeth. Not only could this have a grave impact on your self-confidence and day-to-day functioning, but when these gaps in your smile are left unreplaced, they can result in having an increased risk of other oral health problems down the road.
Reducing Your Risk of Developing Health Conditions
Many people don’t know that by visiting their dentist every six months and practicing good at-home hygiene, they’re also taking care of the rest of their body too, not just their mouth. Gum disease is a common oral health issue that affects one out of two adults in the United States, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is when harmful oral bacteria accumulate and produce toxins that overrun your mouth and cause inflammation, swelling, and even bleeding gums when you brush and floss. Research has shown that people who suffer from the advanced stages of gum disease are also at a higher risk of several health conditions, including:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Respiratory Issues
Regular Dental Visits Help Detect Disease Early
Many people wonder why it’s necessary that they visit their dentist every six months for checkups and cleanings if they brush and floss at home. Your dentist is specially trained to spot the early signs of several conditions and diseases while they’re examining your mouth during your checkup. These include:
- Oral cancer
- Diabetes
- Anemia
- GERD (gastrointestinal reflux disease)
- Stress
With routine visits to your dentist can provide you with an extra set of eyes to spot any early oral signs that these conditions are exhibiting. This can increase your chances of early detection, hopefully also resulting in successful treatment.
Your mouth is intimately connected with the rest of your body, including your mental and physical wellbeing. When you take care of your teeth and gums, it’s so you can continue having a great quality of life and hopefully be able to enjoy your smile forever.
About the Author
Dr. Doug Clark, Jr. has been practicing dentistry for over 30 years! Even with decades of experience under his belt, he’s still on a quest to keep up with the latest techniques and technology that the dental world has to offer, which is why he regularly takes continuing education courses. He is committed to providing families with the highest quality of dental care, which has led to him receiving the Children’s Dentistry Award from his work with young patients at the Oneida Indian Clinic. For questions or to schedule an appointment, visit Hill Avenue Dental’s website or call 715-392-5161.