How poor dental health affects your overall health?

Dental and oral health are vital aspects of overall health and well-being. Moreover, poor oral hygiene can cause tooth decay, gum disease, diabetes, and heart problems. Therefore, it is important to understand the cause of dental diseases to live a healthy life.

Maintaining your dental health is a lifetime commitment. Therefore, the sooner you start practicing good oral hygiene practices, such as brushing, flossing, and reducing sugar intake, it will avoid costly dental operations and long-term health issues.

Symptoms of dental problems

Seeing your dentist twice a year lets your dentist detect problems before you notice any symptoms. If you detect any of the below-mentioned symptoms of dental health problems, you should see your dentist as soon as possible.

• Ulcers and sores in the mouth that do not heal within a week or two.
• Bleeding or swollen gums.
• Chronic bad breath
• Severe sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures or drinks.
• Toothache
• Loose teeth
• Gum recession
• Chewing or biting discomfort
• Facial and cheek swelling
• Teeth that are fractured or broken
• Dry mouth

You should seek quick medical attention if you feel any symptoms, along with a high temperature and facial swelling or neck.

Cause of dental diseases

Bacteria, viruses, and fungus thrive in your mouth cavity. Some of them reside there as part of your mouth's normal flora. Furthermore, a high-sugar diet stimulates the development of acid-producing bacteria. As a result, this acid destroys tooth enamel, resulting in dental cavities.

Bacteria flourish around your gumline in a sticky matrix known as plaque. If plaque is not eliminated regularly by brushing and flossing, it builds and hardens on your tooth. Consequently, plaque induces gum inflammation and the disease known as gingivitis.

When your gums are inflamed, they begin to pull away from your teeth. As a result, this procedure causes pockets where pus can accumulate. This severe stage of gum disease is known as periodontitis.

Gingivitis and periodontitis are caused by a variety of conditions, including:

• Bad brushing habits
• Smoking
• Snacking on sweet foods and drinks regularly
• Diabetes
• Use of drugs that limit saliva production in the mouth.
• Family history or genetics
• Various diseases, such as HIV or AIDS

The link between dental and general health

Researchers have indicated a link between poor dental health and overall well-being, which has increased the relevance of oral health in recent years. As a result, it turns out that having a healthy mouth might help you keep a healthy body, whereas poor dental health can lead to:

• heart disease
• premature birth
• low birth weight

Bacteria can enter your circulation through your mouth and cause infective endocarditis. Moreover, infective endocarditis is a potentially fatal infection of the heart valves. Therefore, before performing any dental operation that may discharge bacteria in your mouth, your dentist will advise you to take antibiotics as a precaution.

Treating dental problems

Good dental health is a byproduct of your overall health. The most effective methods to avoid dental health issues are to:

• Brush your teeth twice a day using fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss daily
• Get your teeth cleaned by a dental specialist after every six months.
• Avoid smoking
• Adopt a high-fiber, low-fat, low-sugar diet.
• Eat fruit and vegetables.

Even if you've been taking better care of your teeth, you'll need a professional cleaning twice a year at a regular dental visit. Your dentist will offer different treatments if you have gum disease, infections, or other issues.

Bottom line

Your dental health not only affects your teeth but also affects your overall health. Moreover, poor dental health can lead to self-esteem, speech, and nutrition problems. Similarly, poor dental health also impacts your general quality of life. Many dental and oral disorders occur without warning. Therefore, visiting a dentist regularly for a checkup and exam is the most excellent method to catch an issue before it worsens.

Contact your Walnut Creek dentist, Massood Darvishzadeh, DDS at Dental Implant Solutions to know about your dental health and the cause of dental diseases.

Resource:

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*Neither this nor any other content in this media is meant to prescribe, recommend, or prevent any treatment or procedure. We highly recommend that you get the advice of a qualified dentist or other medical practitioners regarding your specific dental condition