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Maintaining excellent dental health is not only good for your teeth and gums; doing so can also help improve your overall health. You may be surprised to learn about some of the ways that dental hygiene plays a role in how well your body functions as a whole, and making yourself aware of these facts will likely encourage you to take your oral health more seriously. Here are some key reasons why dental hygiene is essential for good health.
Oral Infection Prevention
Poor dental hygiene habits will negatively affect your oral health, leading to infections developing inside the mouth. Sores on gums and other oral tissues can form and become infected if you neglect to take proper dental hygiene care. Your teeth will also be more prone to decay and infections if you neglect to brush and floss regularly. These tooth infections may even necessitate root canal therapy and other invasive dental treatments to correct.
Respiratory Infection Prevention
Respiratory infections can also develop if you neglect your oral hygiene regimen. Bacteria that enter your lungs through lesions in infected gums could cause acute bronchitis and other respiratory infections. In more severe cases, the bacteria may even cause the development of pneumonia. Dentists in Westerville Ohio, know how to treat infected gums properly and can give sound at-home care advice that can help you reduce your chances of lung infections forming because of bad oral hygiene habits.
Reduces Chances of Cardiovascular Problems
If your gums are chronically inflamed because of gum disease (gingivitis) resulting from poor dental hygiene, your chances of developing severe cardiovascular system conditions are increased. Bacteria can enter through the sores of inflamed gums and harm the cardiovascular system by traveling through the bloodstream. As CharterCollege.edu explains, coronary artery disease and stroke are among the problems related to poor oral health.
Cancer Prevention
Oral cancer risks increase with inadequate dental hygiene. Suppose you have a severe case of gum disease. In that case, the condition could cause biological changes in the gum tissue, making you more susceptible to developing cancerous lesions of the mouth. Bacteria may also spread to other parts of your body from infected gums and contribute to cancer developing in the blood, kidneys, and pancreas.
Better Diabetes Management
If you live with diabetes, you’ll have an easier time managing your condition if you take proper care of your teeth and gums. Maintaining your gums’ health can keep your blood sugar levels from spiking and causing more complications with your diabetes. You’ll want to be especially diligent about practicing good oral hygiene if you have diabetes since the condition can lower white blood cell counts and make your mouth more prone to infections.
Reduces Chances of Infertility
Gum disease that allows bacteria to enter into the bloodstream and infect other areas of the body may even affect your ability to conceive or maintain sexual functioning. Women are more susceptible to becoming infertile and often have much more difficulty conceiving if they don’t stay on top of their oral hygiene. Men may also experience erectile dysfunction more frequently if proper dental care habits aren’t followed.
Helps Ensure a Smoother Pregnancy
If you’re a woman who’s expecting, you’ll want to be incredibly diligent about your oral hygiene. If you abandon acceptable oral hygiene practices, you may develop periodontal disease, a severe gum infection. This can lead to premature birth or a low birth weight of your baby. You’re also more prone to getting cavities and gum disease during pregnancy because of hormonal changes in the body, which is another reason why you should never neglect your dental care.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Prevention
The bacteria that enter the body through infected gums can cause chronic inflammation in bones and joints, leading to rheumatoid arthritis. This inflammation is triggered by an immune response that could also affect other parts of the body. If you already have rheumatoid arthritis, poor oral health could worsen the condition.
Maintaining excellent dental hygiene should always be a top priority in your life. By staying on top of your oral care routine, you can prevent many other problems that could worsen your health.
