Why Dental Health Is Just As Important As Your Overall Health

Updated on June 27, 2021

One of the first things you should do if you’re looking after yourself and your overall health is to ensure that you have proper dental care. Everyone needs to go to the dentist for regular cleanings, checkups, and treatments. This includes people of all ages, from children to the elderly. 

Although some may think that brushing their teeth once or twice a day is enough, the fact is that not everyone brushes their teeth correctly and this has serious repercussions, including tooth decay and cavities which may lead to other problems. If you want to learn more and get more details regarding teeth health, there is a lot of information. You can always ask professional dentists like Finn Hill Dental in Poulsbo that know how to keep your teeth healthy. 

In this article, you’ll learn about the reasons dental health is important to your overall well-being.

Preserve Your Pearly Whites

Lack of dental care will become apparent over time and this can have serious implications on your overall well-being. Tooth decay and gum disease can cause your pearly whites to turn yellow or develop bad breath, tooth damage, and even loss of teeth. 

While these problems may not seem major at first, they can have a huge impact on a person’s overall well-being and might even cause one to lose self-confidence. Your teeth play a big part on how you look and once you see that your pearly whites are starting to show some signs of decay and damage, it might make you feel insecure about your appearance. Things can even get a lot worse if other people will constantly bother you about your teeth. 

Regular and preventative dental care is the only thing you can do to help prevent further damage to your teeth and gums. Brushing, flossing, and choosing the right dentist to visit regularly will help ensure that any dental problems will be identified and treated right away.

Prevent Serious Health Complications

Poor oral hygiene can lead to a number of problems including gingivitis, cavities, periodontal disease, oral cancer, and even diabetes and kidney disease. Your teeth are a direct reflection of how healthy you are internally, so it’s important that you take care of them. 

You should floss on a daily basis and even after meals to remove food particles that may get stuck between your teeth and under your gum line. Also, using a toothbrush with soft bristles is recommended as well as rinsing your mouth with mouthwash. In addition to cleaning your teeth and keeping them nice and fresh, you’ll also be removing any food particles that are stuck in your oral cavity.

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Here are some diseases that you might get from having poor dental health:

  • Cardiovascular or heart diseasePoor oral health can lead to serious non-dental health problems such as cardiovascular disease as the bacteria from the inflammation of gums or periodontal disease enters your bloodstream and travels to your heart through the arteries which causes atherosclerosis (a condition where your arteries harden). Atherosclerosis is a serious medical condition which causes plaque to develop on the inner walls of arteries. It can block blood flow throughout your body, increasing your risk of stroke or heart attack.
  • Dementia – Gingivitis which is often caused by lack of dental care can also cause dementia. The bacteria can enter your brain through the nerve channels or bloodstream, which can eventually develop into Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Diabetic complications – The inflammation of the gums can also cause diabetic complications, making people with diabetes more at risk. It can also make it more difficult for the body to regular blood sugar levels, which results in diabetic symptoms. People with diabetes are also more vulnerable to periodontal disease, which is why proper dental care’s even more important for them.

It’s also worth noting that most dental problem can cause severe pain. A mild toothache is usually a sign of dental problem or infection and can be treated with some pain relievers. Toothaches with intense oral pain can affect your ability to concentrate and may even lead to severe headaches. If the cause of the pain is an infection, expect it to get worse. 

Final Thoughts

Dental health is very important. Your teeth and oral cavity are one of the most important facets of your overall health. Without them, you could suffer from serious medical problems. So, make sure to brush, floss, and use a special toothpaste to keep your teeth looking their best. You might even consider getting braces, although there are other measures you can take to maintain good dental health.

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.