5 Reasons to Take Your Oral Health Seriously

Dental health: you’ve probably heard of this term more often than you’d like, but it’s definitely held in high importance for all the right reasons. While most people think of a great smile, white teeth, and fresh breath when it comes to impeccable dental health, there are actually many more reasons as to why you should take dental matters seriously.

Many people think that maintaining good dental health is hard. The truth, however, is that all it takes is a bit of time and awareness of good practices such as:

• Brushing your teeth and flossing twice a day every day
• Going to your dentist regularly
• Avoiding sugary foods and drinks as much as possible
• Scraping your tongue
• Brushing your gums
• Using mouthwash.

Although you’ve probably been told that dental care is important, a lot of people end up asking this question: “Why should I care about my dental health and take it seriously?”

5 Reasons to Take Your Oral Health Seriously

Although there’s a lot to say about how you can keep your dental health in check, it’s important for you to first understand why it’s so important to maintain in the first place. Let’s look into why it’s essential for you to maintain optimal oral health:

REASON #1: Dental health is closely related to cardiovascular health

According to several studies conducted on the link between cardiovascular health and dental health, researchers discovered that those who have oral health issues also have an increased risk of heart disease. Additionally, those suffering from periodontal disease are also twice as likely to contract a heart disease or suffer from a heart attack and three times more likely to experience a stroke than those who don’t have PD. The reason oral health issues are tied to cardiovascular diseases is that bacteria that comes from the mouth can cause inflammation in other areas in the body. The bacteria can also lead to endocarditis, which is an infection of the heart’s inner lining that can severely damage your ticker.

REASON #2: A lack of fundamental oral care practices can lead to diabetes and gum disease

The relationship between diabetes and gum disease is inverse in nature, where individuals that have gum disease can suffer from diabetes, and those that have diabetes are at risk of contracting gum disease. The bacteria that accumulates in the mouth when proper dental care is forgone can affect the body’s carbohydrate metabolism. This can, in turn, increase blood glucose levels and insulin resistance. Among all the different conditions that you can contract with poor oral health, diabetes is one that you don’t want to go anywhere near.

REASON #3: Poor oral health can lead to oral cancer

Oral healthcare (and the need for it) has seen a spike nowadays due to the fact that scientists have discovered that oral cancer can affect anyone, regardless of good or bad oral health practices. That said, there’s no doubt that dental checkups are of ever greater importance due to the fact that they also include cancer screenings. Dentists inspect each patient’s lips, cheeks, gums, and tongue to ensure that they are in optimal health. In the case that oral cancer is discovered, early intervention can help to resolve it. Therefore, it’s crucial that you go to the dentist at least twice a year for regular cancer screenings.

REASON #4: The condition of your teeth shows your likelihood of contracting a respiratory infection

Recent studies on oral health and its connection to general health have also shown that periodontal disease is linked to instances of different types of respiratory infections. These PD-linked conditions include chronic pulmonary disease, pneumonia, and the common cold. All of these infections are a result of the inhalation of bacteria that is drawn from the upper throat and into the lower respiratory tract.

REASON #5: Oral health can affect your chances of having a baby

Should you find yourself wanting to take the necessary steps to parenthood, make sure that your oral health is in check. Studies conducted on the relationship between fertility and dental health have shown several key findings that can affect your chances of conceiving, such as PD increasing the difficulty of conception and causing premature births. Additionally, oral health conditions have also been proven to significantly reduce fertility, resulting in longer conceiving periods of seven months (as compared to the five that mothers with healthy teeth typically need).

Your oral health goes beyond your teeth. Take care of your body by ensuring that your teeth, gums, and tongue are as healthy as can be.

If you’re looking for a local dentist to help you with your oral health, get in touch with us today for a free consultation!