Why Dental Hygiene is So Important to Overall Health

My Image Source: Envato 

Practicing good dental hygiene is one of the most important steps in maintaining a beautiful and complete smile. Surprisingly, however, efforts to maintain the well-being of your mouth can also have a significant impact on your overall health. With proper brushing and flossing techniques, and routine dental visits, it may even be possible to prolong your lifespan. The following are several reasons why good dental hygiene is absolutely essential for your well-being.

Infections Of The Teeth And Underlying Bones Can Become Systemic

One of the most common and serious health effects of bad oral hygiene is a systemic infection. This occurs when infections of the gums and teeth enter the underlying bone structure. Once they do, they undermine and degrade the supporting bones, and eventually enter the bloodstream. 

This allows them to affect all parts of the body including different organs and organ systems. Systemic infections can cause widespread inflammation and a host of other serious issues. For instance, systemic infections can also be responsible for the development and build-up of arterial plaque.

System Infection And The Resulting Inflammation Can Diminish Your Cardiovascular Health

It's frequently said that regularly flossing your teeth can add as much as five years to your life. While this might seem like a radical idea, it's actually supported by solid science. Flossing diminishes the likelihood of problems like gingivitis and progressive gum disease. It also helps stave off the development of cavities between the teeth and at the gum line. 

Elevated inflammation levels as the result of infection along with increased arterial plaque place extra strain on the heart. In fact, studies have shown that oral infections can make a person 2.7 times more likely to develop heart disease.

Many Nutritional Deficiencies Can Be Avoided With Good Oral Health

With even just one missing tooth, chewing some of your favorites, healthy foods can be a real challenge. If left unresolved, tooth loss can disrupt the balance in natural bite forces, thereby causing significant and rapid wear of the remaining natural teeth. Once this occurs, munching on protein-rich options like almonds and walnuts can quickly become near-impossible. Lean cuts of meat and even chicken breast can also be difficult to chew. Moreover, people with widespread tooth loss often eschew some of the most nutrient-dense foods available. 

Apples, carrots, and other crunchy produce frequently prove too challenging for those with numerous missing teeth. When the mouth is kept healthy through diligent and regular dental care, maintaining good nutrition becomes infinitely easier. For those who are already dealing with moderate or widespread tooth loss, dental implants in Cary, NC or other professionals in your home can restore full chewing abilities.

Oral Hygiene Is Essential For Protecting Your Respiratory Health

Whenever the teeth and gums are not being properly cleaned, harmful bacteria are allowed to proliferate. In addition to causing cavities and unpleasant mouth odors, these bacteria can also cause harm to the entire respiratory system. 

Given that they're being regularly breathed in, the lungs are constantly exposed to organisms that undermine their well-being. Illness and infection-causing bacteria in the lungs can result in bronchitis, pneumonia, and even serious respiratory diseases like COPD.

Diabetes And Diabetes Complications

If you are someone who lives with diabetes, then you already know just how important it is to take good care of your teeth and gums. Not only is this vital for staving off long-lasting infections that prove difficult to treat and heal, but poor oral hygiene can actually make both type 1 and type 2 diabetes more difficult to control. 

Surprisingly, oral infections can also increase a person's risk of developing diabetes. This is because gingivitis and the more advanced periodontal disease typically lead to elevated blood sugar levels.

Reproductive Complications

Some of the most common and frustrating reproductive issues actually start in the mouth. Whether you're trying to conceive or simply want to improve your stamina and performance, you may want to look to your oral hygiene, especially if you already have cavities, unhealthy gums, inflammation, or signs of systemic infection. 

Women with oral health infections generally take longer to successfully conceive than do women who lack these problems. Men with advanced gum disease and severe tooth infections are more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction than men who do not. It's also important to note that gum disease and tooth infection during pregnancy can be responsible for problems like low birth weight and premature birth.

Ultimately, taking care of your gums and teeth is about far more than maintaining a healthy, attractive-looking smile. Good oral care can bolster and protect your heart health, your respiratory health, and your reproductive health among many other things. With a clean and well-maintained mouth, you can enjoy a longer lifespan and a higher quality of life overall.