Dental Hygiene For Overall Health

You may have heard the term “dental hygiene” a thousand times during your lifetime. But did you stop to think what it really meant? You may think that it is important because of the effects it has on your gums and teeth. But did you know that dental hygiene is important because of its effects on your overall health?

First of all, what is meany by dental hygiene? Dental hygiene really means to clean your teeth at least three times a day after meals. It is best done with a fluoride toothpaste that has been approved by the American Dental Association. Flossing your teeth at least once a day will help to remove the plaque stuck between your teeth. Consuming a balanced and healthy diet and visiting your dentist on a regular basis are also important aspects of dental hygiene.

Dental hygiene could have a much devastating effect on your overall health than you would imagine. Not brushing your teeth regularly will result in building of plaque between your teeth. This is a kind of bacteria that is formed just above the gum line. This plaque can turn into tartar very soon if no proper brushing or flossing is done. The only way to remove tartar is by visiting your dentist. Your dentist will use a procedure known as scaling to remove tartar build ups. Tartar can result in your developing gingivitis, which could turn into a more serious periodontitis if not treated early on.

Periodontitis is a serious form of gingivitis which could be a quite damaging form of infection. It could weaken the bones, loosen the teeth and result in loss of teeth in the long run. Recent studies have revealed that periodontitis is linked to diabetes, strokes and heart diseases. This is due to the inflammation of the mouth. This will cause white blood cells and proteins to increase production since it helps to fight infection. This increase in production can have negative side effects as well. It will not only make your gums inflamed, but will get into the blood stream and be carried down to the arteries itself. Inflammation in the arteries will make them more vulnerable to the deposits of fats and cholesterol. This will finally lead to strokes and heart attacks. Recent studies reveal that people with more bacteria and plaque in their mouths have a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.

People with existing heart conditions will have to spend more time in maintaining their oral hygiene. If you start to bleed in your mouth, the bacteria from your teeth and gums can get into the bloodstream and stay on the abnormal valve, which will cause serious infections later on.

Another way that dental hygiene will affect your overall health is when you get older. Not caring about dental hygiene can result in having dentures during old age. Dentures that do not fit well can result in malnutrition or abnormal weight loss. You will not be able to bite and chew your food properly when the dentures doesn’t fit properly. This will not help in extracting the vital nutrients that are essential to maintain your body during old age. This is one way that will affect your overall health by way of malnutrition. It can result in abnormal weight loss during old age which is not a good sign during such an age.

All the aforementioned examples are about how dental hygiene will affect your overall health. If you are concerned about your particular situation, and are looking for more detailed information on how dental hygiene will affect your overall health, contact Dr. Daniel Lamb at Keystone Dental Center in Colorado Springs or call us at 719-596-0212. We will help you get the best dental hygiene practices based on your age and medical history.

Call us now at 719-596-0212 or make an online appointment by clicking HERE and Dr. Lamb will show you how easily and affordable a beautiful smile can be.