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The Role of Oral Hygiene in Your Overall Health

The Role of Oral Hygiene in Your Overall Health

Many of us do not assign the same importance to our oral health as we do to our overall well-being. If you watch close enough, each symptom gives a clue about deeper health issues in your body. Oral health, on the other hand, works both ways – it does not only offer insights into your ailments but also affects your health.

Read this quick piece to find out how your dental hygiene and oral health connects to your bodily conditions.

Discovering the Connection

The mouth is the first point of contact between the external world and our internal organs. It connects through the Esophagus and Trachea to respiratory and digestive systems.

Our mouths are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria, most of which usually do not pose any serious threat. However, some of these germs are harmful and can enter our digestive tract.

Keeping a Check

Regular brushing, flossing and dental check-ups keep the number of harmful bacteria under control. This does not only protect you from dental conditions but also reduces the chances of other bodily diseases. Routine dental hygiene practices are even more important for people with low immunity due to diseases.

Some prescription medications also hamper the natural production of saliva that tackles the excess acidic activity of oral bacteria. In such cases, maintaining oral hygiene can reduce the chances of existing diseases becoming severe and prevent new ones from developing.

Diseases Related to Oral Health

While certain oral conditions like gum diseases and tooth decay can be directly linked to oral hygiene, there also are other conditions that show up as a result of poor oral health.

Cardiovascular Conditions

Although research is sparse in this area, some studies conclude that oral bacteria are linked to blockage in the arteries, Endocarditis and other heart diseases are the after-effects of bacterial oral infection.

Respiratory Diseases

Harmful bacteria from the mouth can easily cross over to the breathing apparatus of the body, causing shortness of breath and even deadly conditions like Pneumonia.

On the other hand, conditions such as HIV/AIDS, Diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Osteoporosis can affect one’s oral health. These conditions reduce the natural ability of the body to fight infections and bacteria, aiding in the development of excessive bacterial colonies in the mouth. Professional dental consultation can help people with these conditions in maintaining better oral health.

What Should You Do?

There are simple things you can bring into your daily routine to make sure your oral hygiene stays perfect. From brushing twice a day and flossing to using mouthwash and sticking to a healthy diet, there are numerous ways of making sure you stay on the top of your oral health game!

Looking for a good dentist in your area? With decades of experience and hundreds of delighted clients, Lebanon Park Dental is the best dental clinic in Twickenham. Click here to contact us and schedule an appointment.

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The Link Between Diabetes and Your Dental Health

Your mouth offers many clues to your overall health. From minor conditions to the onset of deadly diseases, knowledge of these signs can help in the timely identification and treatment. Diabetes, a condition that affects over 400 million people globally is no exception to the connection of diseases and dental health.If you or a loved one is affected by diabetes, knowing the relationship between the condition and dental health is worth it. Read on to find out more on how diabetes and dental health are interconnected.

The Domino Effect

The most important characteristic of diabetes is heightened glucose levels in the bloodstream. While it is commonly known that this has a negative effect on the eyes, heart and other organs, most of us do not realize these effects until it is too late! Diabetes lowers the natural healing capacities of the body, raising the chances of infections in your
mouth! Besides the blood, it also increases the glucose levels of the saliva, aiding in the growth of
dental bacteria. This is why diabetic individuals are prone to gum diseases and hence the chances of tooth loss.

The Early Signs

While blood tests are the best methods to identify diabetes, there are subtle dental signs that may point to the condition. For instance, swollen and/or bleeding gums are signs of gum disease, which might be a direct result of elevated glucose levels in your system.
Diabetics should not just watch their sugar levels, but also visit their dentist at least once every six months to know the status of their dental health.

Get Professional Help

While basic protocols like brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing are the stepping stones to good oral health, they would not be very effective on their own if you are suffering from diabetes.
Expert opinion can be invaluable in preventing diabetes-led dental diseases from developing in the first place. This is why you should consider visiting your dentist regularly.

About Us

With a long list of delighted clients, Lebanon Park Dental Group is a trusted dental clinic in Richmond. Our experts are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and decades of experience in providing high-quality dental care. Schedule an appointment today and find out why we are the best dental clinic in Twickenham!