How Does Dental Health Affect Overall Health?
Did you know that your dental health directly affects your overall health? A clean, healthy mouth is the first step to lasting good health. At Sunrise Dental of Peoria, we always emphasize the importance of daily brushing and flossing, because good oral care influences every other aspect of your general health and longevity.
How Your Dental Health Affects Your Overall Health
Oral Health and Bacteria
Your mouth harbors many types of bacteria. Most of them are harmless, but some can cause serious health problems. Because your mouth connects to your respiratory and digestive systems, bad bacteria can easily spread from your mouth to other parts of your body. Good oral care habits will keep bad bacteria under control.
Links Between Dental Health and Overall Health
When bacteria build up in your mouth they create plaque, which leads to gum disease and periodontitis. Oral diseases can complicate other health conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, immune disorders, and strokes. Gum and periodontal diseases also increase your risk of developing bacterial infections.
How to Protect Your Dental Health
1. Brush and Floss Daily
Staying healthy means taking good care of your mouth. Daily brushing and flossing is just as important as a healthy diet and regular exercise for maintaining optimum health. When plaque builds up, it causes cavities, gum disease, and infections. Regular brushing and flossing remove plaque before it can cause any trouble.
2. Reduce Stress
Stress can have a disastrous impact on your oral health. Chronic stress weakens your immune system, leaving you vulnerable to the infections that cause cavities and gum disease. It also triggers many negative side effects like headaches, teeth grinding, jaw clenching, TMJ, nail biting, canker sores, and bad habits.
3. Drink More Water
Along with regular brushing and flossing, drinking water is one of the best ways to prevent cavities and gum disease. Plaque can’t build up in a clean, hydrated mouth. Drinking water washes away food debris, fights cavity-causing bacteria, and boosts your saliva production, which contains antimicrobial properties. You can even strengthen your tooth enamel by drinking water that contains trace minerals and fluoride.
4. Schedule Regular Checkups
At Sunrise Dental in Peoria, we advise our patients to visit us for a cleaning at least once every six months. Our professional cleanings can help you prevent cavities and gum disease before they start, or keep chronic conditions under control. If you suffer from diabetes, arthritis, gingivitis, or dry mouth, you may need more frequent professional cleanings.
Contact Us
Do you have questions about your dental health and how it might affect your overall health? Schedule an appointment at Sunrise Dental today. Dr. Mettler and Dr. Griego have proudly served Peoria, Arizona and the surrounding communities of Surprise, Phoenix, and Glendale for over 30 years. We look forward to giving you a reason to smile!
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash used under Creative Commons license for commercial use 1/20/2021.