Your oral health is far more important to you than you might think. Many people don’t realize how important oral health is. Your general health can be affected by the health of your teeth and your gums.
The health of your mouth gives off clues about your general health. When your mouth has problems, it affects the rest of your body. You can help to protect yourself by finding out how the health of your mouth, teeth, and gums affects your general health.
How Is Your General Health Affected By Your Oral Health?
The human mouth is loaded with bacteria. Most of it is totally harmless. That said, the mouth is the entry portal for your digestive and respiratory systems. Some of the bacteria that get into those systems are from your mouth. They can causes several diseases.
Medications like antihistamines, painkillers, and other things can decrease the flow of the saliva that’s in your mouth. Saliva helps because it neutralizes acids and washes food away. It defends your mouth because it protects it from the microbes that cause diseases.
There are studies that have shown that bacteria that cause gum disease and the infections that result from gum disease help to cause other diseases as well. Diabetes and HIV/AIDS make oral infections even worse because they lower a body’s resistance to infections. The problems that are related to poor oral health thus become even worse.
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What Conditions Are Connected To Oral Health?
Endocarditis is an infection of the inner linings of your heart’s chambers or valves. These infections usually happen when either bacteria or germs from other body parts, including the mouth, flow through the body’s bloodstream and become attached to parts of the heart.
Cardiovascular disease: There is research that indicates that strokes, heart disease, and clogged arteries are caused by bacteria that enter the body through the mouth.
Periodontitis has been shown to be a cause of premature births. It has also been shown that is causes low birth weight as well.
Bacteria that start in the mouth can get into the lungs. This causes pneumonia as well as other diseases of the respiratory system.
There Are Conditions That Have An Effect On Oral Health
Diabetes reduces the ability of your body to fight off infections. This means that it can have an effect on your gums. Gum disease occurs more often when a patient has diabetes. Gum disease also tends to be more severe when diabetes is involved.
Research has indicated that patients with gum disease also find that it’s harder for them to control their blood sugar. Diabetes is easier to control when regular oral health care is employed.
Such oral issues as mucosal lesions are often found with people who are suffering from HIV/AIDS.
There is a disease that weakens bones. It’s called Osteoporosis. It causes both bone and tooth loss. Some of the drugs that are used to treat it can damage the jawbones.
Alzheimer’s Disease has been linked to poor oral health.
There are other conditions that have been affiliated with bad oral health. Eating disorders can cause oral health problems. Rheumatoid arthritis has been linked to oral health problems. Some cancers and problems that cause dry mouth cause oral problems.
Be sure to tell your dentist about any medications that you are taking. Tell your dentist about any changes to your general health. Make sure that your dentist knows if you’ve been sick recently. Tell your dentist if you have certain health problems such as diabetes.
Protecting Your Oral Health
In order to protect your oral health, make sure that you perform the proper oral hygiene every day.
Use toothpaste that has fluoride in it. Use a brush that has soft bristles. Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
Floss your teeth every day. Do the flossing before you brush your teeth.
After you have finished both brushing and flossing, use mouthwash. Mouthwash will remove any remaining particles of food.
Eat a healthy diet. Try to get rid of any food that has added sugar. It may taste good, but such food can be bad for your oral health.
Make sure that you replace your toothbrush every three months. Replace it right away if the bristles are splayed. If the bristles are worn, you also need to replace it immediately.
Make certain that you visit your dentist on a regular basis. You need to have checkups done regularly. You should also get your teeth cleaned regularly as well.
Don’t use any tobacco products
If you experience any oral health issues at all, get a hold of your dentist as soon as you notice them.
Investing in your oral health means that you are also investing in your general health.
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