When you want to take care of your overall health, it’s important to take care of your oral health. There are many health problems that can develop in the mouth, and these can result in countless problems. When many people think of their oral health, they think of their teeth. However, there is more to oral health than just the teeth. The gums and the insides of the cheeks are also important to your teeth and health. It’s important to get your dental checkups every six months so that any small problems can be caught before they get any worse and turn into big problems.
Talking, Chewing, and More
When you have problems with your teeth or gums, you may end up losing your teeth. It’s common for patients to lose teeth because of severe tooth decay or because of serious gum disease. When this happens, you can’t talk and chew the way you did before. Having missing teeth can change your speech patterns. It can change the way you pronounce words, and many patients feel embarrassed about this. They also feel embarrassed when they smile and a tooth or several teeth are missing. Keeping your mouth in good health can help you to avoid these problems.
When you have missing teeth, it also means that it’s harder to chew, especially when something is hard or chewy. This problem can mean that you have to avoid certain foods because they are so difficult to chew. This can affect your overall health when you aren’t able to eat healthy foods like fruits or certain proteins. It can be difficult to maintain your overall health when there are a lot of foods that you simply aren’t able to chew.
Bacteria in the Mouth
When you have a lot of plaque tartar, food, and debris in your mouth, it can cause a host of oral problems. When food gets under the gums, it can cause gum disease and loose teeth that may eventually be lost. It can also cause tooth decay and other problems in your mouth. One of the worst aspects of this is that it breeds bacteria in your mouth, especially around your teeth and gums. This bacteria can build up, and it can spread to other areas of your body. Bacteria that spread can put you at risk of other health conditions outside of your mouth.
While there are many types of bacteria that are supposed to be in the mouth, there are dozens of types that aren’t. These bad bacteria can spread far and wide in the body, causing a host of terrible health risks. The bacteria present in the mouth can actually release certain toxins that can leave the mouth and end up in the brain. Today, some of the bad bacteria in the mouth are thought to contribute to patients developing Alzheimer’s disease. Bad bacteria can enter your bloodstream, and this can cause a host of problems.
The health of the heart is also tied to the health of the mouth. When your mouth isn’t healthy, you run a higher risk of heart problems. There are many heart problems that can be affected by teeth and gums that aren’t in healthy condition. You run a higher risk of heart disease with bad bacteria in your mouth, as well as a higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis, pneumonia, and even esophageal cancer and bone disease. All of these problems can create serious harm to your health, and they are all affected by the health of your mouth.
Caring for Your Teeth
When you want your teeth to be as healthy as possible, there are many ways to keep it healthier. With a healthier mouth, you can reduce your risk of a number of serious diseases. To keep your teeth and gums in better condition, make sure that you brush at least twice a day with a suitable toothpaste for your needs. Floss at least once a day to get rid of food and debris that can cause plaque to form in between teeth and at the gumline. These basic preventive methods are the key to your oral health.
Another key to a healthy mouth is getting your dental checkups every six months. During these appointments, you get a complete oral examination that can find problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, oral cancer, etc. Skipping these appointments can make a bad situation worse, and it can keep you from the early detection of countless oral problems.
If you need your dental deep cleaning and oral exam, contact us at The Center for Family & Implant Dentistry to make your appointment. We are here to schedule your checkup so that problems can be caught and treated. We care about the health of your mouth as well as your overall health, and we’re here to help.
