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.
