Let’s face it, taking care of your teeth isn’t all that fun. Flossing, brushing your teeth, and visiting a dentist isn’t exactly anyone’s idea of a good time. Despite this, it is becoming increasingly obvious that people need to start taking better care of their oral health.
To start with, oral health isn’t just about keeping your gums and teeth healthy. Experts have discovered several links between the state of your mouth and your general health. And regular dental check-ups with the Dental Arts of Catoosa clinic for example can definitely improve the overall oral health of your mouth. Although this may sound incredible, here is the proof to back it up.
Gum Disease May Increase Risk of Heart Disease
Now, researchers aren’t exactly sure what the connection between gum disease and heart disease is. Despite it, the evidence is clear – people who have been diagnosed with gum disease have an increased risk of developing heart disease as well. What’s more, the bacteria that causes gum disease can also have a negative impact on your heart valves. This is particularly profound with people who already have artificial heart valves in place.
It should also be noted that treating gum disease doesn’t necessarily reduce your risk of heart health problems. This is why it is imperative that you take all of the precautions to avoid this type of oral health problems in the first place. Therefore, make it a point to follow an appropriate oral health route and visit your dentist as often as possible.
Poor Oral Health Linked to Stomach Issues
Do you commonly suffer from stomach ulcers or gastrointestinal infections in general? Well, treating these problems alone may not actually do you too much good. This is because experts have found that an unhealthy mouth may actually result in an unhealthy stomach.
When medical professionals looked at individuals suffering from precancerous stomach lesions and gastritis caused by a Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection, they realized something else. These individuals also had a history of decaying, infected, or missing teeth. A little more research discovered that oral health problems can actually be related to a greater number of stomach problems as well.
Plaque May Cause an Advance in Pneumonia
It is important to remember that bacteria in the mouth can move to other parts of the body relatively easily. This is why doctors have found that the bacteria found in plaque and other biofilms could actually cause pulmonary infections. In particular, there is some evidence to show that it can either initiate or advance pneumonia as well.
So, your main goal should be to avoid the development of plaque in your mouth. To do this, you should be more careful about the type of food you are eating and to limit your intake of sugary foods and drinks. What’s more, you need to effectively clean your mouth so that plaque can’t begin to build up on your teeth each day. Finally, you need to visit a dental health professional every few months so that they can deep clean your teeth.
These are some of the effects that poor oral health can have on your general health. There are many other ways in which infected teeth and gums can negatively impact your physical wellbeing. This is precisely why you need to start being more aware of the condition of your mouth. Furthermore, you must take every precaution and work to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible.
