Oral Health: A Key Indicator of Your Overall Well-Being

Nowadays, most of the people worldwide are focusing on achieving a healthy and fit body and trying to follow a healthy lifestyle. While most of the population focuses on going to gym, doing yoga, avoiding processed food items, diet, achieving better mental health, what gets neglected or less discussed is the importance of oral health and how to maintain it. One thing that many people don’t know about is that oral health has a direct connection with many of the other health aspects of the human body. How?

That is what we are going to find out later today in this blog…… 

The Link Between Oral Health and General Health

A human body is home to millions of bacteria, some beneficial to us while some just straight forwardly damages our body and its whole system. Like any other part of the body, our mouth is also home to many bacterias and is not just for talking and eating. When the bad bacteria multiply rapidly and get overpopulated in our  mouth due to neglected oral health and care, it leads to a variety of infections and diseases to develop not just in our mouth but also in other parts of the body.

Oral Health And Heart Diseases

Gum disease also known as periodontitis is caused due to accumulation of bacteria and plaque in teeth and in between teeth. These multiplied bacteria can enter the body further when we swallow food or drink water and from there it can enter the bloodstream. These bacteria trigger inflammation in blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and clogged arteries. Many studies have shown that people with gum diseases have more risk of developing cardiovascular conditions. 

Oral Health And Diabetes

Diabetes and oral health have a direct connection with each other of negatively affecting the other condition and making it worse. If an individual has diabetes and he/ she does not take medicines or follow the precautions, then he will most likely be susceptible to gum diseases. The same way, if a person has severe gum disease, then it can make it harder for him to control their blood sugar levels, thus making the diabetes worse. 

Oral Health And Respiratory Diseases

Elderly people or individuals with weakened immune systems are most likely to develop lung diseases or infections like pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to bad gum health. The bacteria accumulated in the gums can travel to the lungs through the bloodstream and can cause damage to the lungs. 

Oral Health And Pregnancy Complications

If a woman is pregnant and at the same time have poor teeth and gum health then it most likely will affect the health of the fetus as well. The toxins that develop in the mouth due to the high population of bacteria there can enter the bloodstream and this can lead to premature birth and low birth weight of the fetus. 

Oral Health And Alzheimer’s Disease

Chronic gum infections can cause inflammation in various parts of the body including the brain. This can further lead to potentially increasing the risk of affected and declined cognitive function and memory loss of the person.

How to Maintain Good Oral Health

Brush Your Teeth Twice A Day

Brush your teeth daily for at least two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste. Make sure to clean your tongue and gyms as well while brushing.

Floss Daily

Many bacterias and food still stay stuck between teeth even after brushing. The solution to this is flossing, that will help to remove the food particles and plaque from between the teeth.

Eat A Balanced Diet

A good and balanced diet plays a huge role in main training and good oral health. Avoid sugary and too much acidic food as they can erode enamel and can cause cavities and try to add food items in your diet that are rich in calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus, as they are beneficial for teeth and gums and give the essential nutrients to the body. 

Stay Hydrated

Keeping your hydrated is very important for many of the benefits for the body including keeping the mouth clean and fresh all day. Frequent consumption of water of liquids can help in removing the stuck food particles in the mouth and can also stimulate saliva production. 

Avoid Smoking And Alcohol

Smoking stains teeth, weakens gums, and increases the risk of oral cancer. Alcohol can dry out the mouth and increase the likelihood of bacterial infections. Limiting these habits can improve your oral and overall health.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

If you are observing some signs of damaged oral health and declined oral health, then you need to search for dental care near me and make sure you get your oral health checked regularly by a dentist.