Dental Care and overall health why it’s so important
Did you know that your dental health offers clues about your dental care and overall health and that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body? Protect and nurture yourself by learning more about the connection between your oral health and overall health.
How is dental health related to overall health?
Like other areas of the body, your mouth teems with bacteria, mostly harmless. But your mouth is the entry point to your digestive and respiratory tracts, and some of these bacteria can cause disease.
Normally the body’s natural defenses and good dental health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, keep bacteria under control. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to dental infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease.
Also, certain medications such as decongestants, antihistamines, painkillers, diuretics and antidepressants can reduce saliva flow. Saliva washes away food and neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth, helping to protect you from microbes that multiply and lead to disease.
Studies suggest that oral bacteria and the inflammation associated with a severe form of gum disease (periodontitis) might play a role in some diseases. And certain diseases, such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS, can lower the body’s resistance to infection, making dental health problems more severe.
What conditions can be ascertained by dental health?
Your dental health might contribute to various diseases and conditions, including:
- This infection of the inner lining of your heart chambers or valves (endocardium) typically occurs when bacteria or other germs from another part of your body, such as your mouth, spread through your bloodstream and attach to certain areas in your heart.
- Cardiovascular disease. Although the connection is not fully understood, some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke might be linked to the inflammation and infections that oral bacteria can cause.
- Pregnancy and birth complications. Periodontitis has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
- Certain bacteria in your mouth can be pulled into your lungs, causing pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.
Conversely, certain conditions also might affect your dental health, including:
- By reducing the body’s resistance to infection, diabetes puts your gums at risk. Gum disease appears to be more frequent and severe among people who have diabetes.
- Research shows that people who have gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels. Regular periodontal care can improve diabetes control.
- HIV/AIDS. Oral problems, such as painful mucosal lesions, are common in people who have HIV/AIDS.
- This bone-weakening disease is linked with periodontal bone loss and tooth loss. Certain drugs used to treat osteoporosis carry a small risk of damage to the bones of the jaw.
- Alzheimer’s disease. Worsening dental health is seen as Alzheimer’s disease progresses.
Other conditions that might be linked to dental health include eating disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, certain cancers and an immune system disorder that causes dry mouth (Sjogren’s syndrome).
How to care for dental health?
To protect your oral health, practice good dental hygiene daily.
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft-bristled brush using fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss daily.
- Use mouthwash to remove food particles left after brushing and flossing.
- Eat a healthy diet and limit food with added sugars.
- Replace your toothbrush every three months or sooner if bristles are splayed or worn.
- Schedule regular dental checkups and cleanings.
- Avoid tobacco use.
When it comes to maintaining good dental hygiene, there are many myths that prevent one from choosing the right steps of healthcare. While good dental care can be achieved in just minutes a day, the wrong practices can cause irreversible damage. Let’s debunk some of the most popular ones-
Myth: The harder you brush, the cleaner you’ll get your teeth.
The real deal: Brushing too hard or with too abrasive of a toothbrush (medium or firm) can actually harm your teeth by eroding some of the hard enamel that protects the inside of the tooth from cavities and decay.
Myth: Flossing isn’t really necessary anymore.
The real deal: The recommendation to floss regularly was recently removed from the government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans based on a lack of strong evidence for the practice. However, a lack of strong evidence doesn’t necessarily mean that flossing is not effective. In fact, many dentists haven’t changed their ways or their recommendations. It’s important to still follow your dentist’s recommendation on brushing and flossing.
Myth: Chewing sugar-free gum is just as good as brushing.
The real deal: If only this were true, kids everywhere would jump for joy. Chewing sugar-free gum, especially gum with xylitol, can have a protective effect on the teeth. Gum encourages saliva production, which helps to wash away enamel-eroding acids from foods, drinks, and even stomach acid in the case of issues like acid reflux. And xylitol helps to redouble the effects of saliva. But chewing gum still doesn’t replace brushing and flossing when it comes to removing plaque from all the surfaces of your teeth. You should brush at least twice a day for about two minutes,
Myth: If your gums bleed when you floss, it’s best to leave them alone.
The real deal: The reason our gums bleed is due to inflammation. Often it happens when bacteria and plaque get stuck in between our teeth where toothbrush bristles don’t reach properly. Over time the bacteria builds up and causes the gums to become inflamed. Bleeding is part of that process.
Myth: You’ve been slacking on brushing and flossing and have a dentist appointment coming up. As long as you brush well before going in, no one will know, right?
The real deal: Sorry to break it to you, but you’re not getting away with anything. Without regular brushing and flossing, hard tartar forms around your teeth and at a certain point you can’t get it off with brushing alone. Plus, you can’t undo the inflammation in your gums that occurs when plaque and tartar have accumulated over six months with just a few days of flossing.
Myth: When it comes to cavities, sugar is the main culprit.
The real deal: When you think of cavities, you might think of lollipops and other sweet and sticky treats. But crackers and chips might be even worse for your teeth as it has to do with the starchiness. It’s carbohydrates in general as they have the sugars that break down and really tick to the teeth.
Myth: If you have sensitive teeth, it means you have worn away too much of the enamel on your teeth.
The real deal: Sensitivity is a key symptom of the loss of enamel, the hard protective layer on the outside of your teeth. But it can be caused by other factors as well, such as gum recession, or even the use of whitening toothpastes. The hydrogen peroxide [used for whitening] can penetrate to remove stains. And it penetrates through the enamel into the layer beneath, which is the more sensitive part of the tooth.
Myth: Gum disease is only a problem for your mouth.
The real deal: Your dentist might be the first one to notice it, but if you have gum disease you’re more likely to have health issues such as diabetes and hypertension, as well as certain types of cancers that are related to chronic inflammation.
Myth: The whiter your teeth are, the healthier they are.
The real deal: This can be true but not always as our teeth are naturally white. And many of the things that cause our teeth to get darker or become yellow are unhealthy, like smoking. But there are also plenty of things that can darken the color of our teeth that aren’t necessarily unhealthy, such as medication, stains from foods and drinks, or just the natural process of aging.
Myth: If nothing is bothering you, you don’t need a dental checkup.
The real deal: This is one of the biggest misconceptions. With a lot of dental issues, you don’t necessarily feel pain right away. I have to explain to patients and educate them that with cavities and gum disease you don’t always feel it. The problem is once the symptoms appear, it’s often a bigger issue. If you wait until a cavity hurts to get it checked out, you could end up needing a root canal or an extraction that could have been prevented with regular checkups. The point of going to the dentist is so we can prevent things happening to the teeth to protect them and notice things before they become an issue.
How to maintain good dental care- a dentist’s perspective
Healthy teeth are clean and have no cavities. Healthy gums are pink and firm, and do not bleed. To maintain healthy teeth and gums, follow these steps:
- Floss at least once per day. It is best to floss after brushing. Flossing removes plaque that is left behind after brushing from between the teeth and on the gums.
- Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Brush for at least 2 minutes each time.
- Use fluoride toothpaste. The fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel and helps prevent tooth decay.
- Replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months or sooner if needed. A worn-out toothbrush will not clean your teeth as well. If you use an electric toothbrush, change heads every 3 to 4 months as well.
- Eat a healthy diet. You are less likely to get gum disease if you eat healthy foods.
- Avoid sweets and sweetened drinks. Eating and drinking a lot of sweets increases your risk of cavities. If you do eat or drink sweets, brush your teeth soon after.
- Do not smoke. Smokers have more teeth and gum problems than non-smokers.
- Keep dentures, retainers, and other appliances clean. This includes brushing them regularly. You may also need to soak them in a cleansing solution.
- Schedule regular checkups with your dentist. Many dentists recommend having the teeth professionally cleaned every 6 months for optimal oral health. Seeing the dentist every 3 to 4 months may be needed if your gums become unhealthy.
Regular teeth cleaning by a dentist removes plaque that may develop, even with careful brushing and flossing. This is very important for getting to areas that are hard to reach on your own. Professional cleaning includes scaling and polishing. This procedure uses instruments to loosen and remove deposits from the teeth. Routine exams may include dental x-rays. We at HMC use superior quality instruments to keep your dental health in top-notch condition always.
Ask our dentists, when you visit us
At HMC, your convenience is our priority. While visiting us, we recommend you ask us all doubts you may have regarding your condition, so we can serve you better-
- What kind of toothbrush you should use, and how to brush your teeth well. Ask if an electric toothbrush is right for you. Electric toothbrushes have been shown to clean teeth better than manual toothbrushes. They often also have a timer to let you know when you have reached the 2 minute mark.
- How to properly floss your teeth. Overly vigorous or improper flossing may injure the gums.
- Whether you should use any special appliances or tools, such as water irrigation. This may sometimes help supplement (but not replace) brushing and flossing.
- Whether you could benefit from particular toothpastes or mouth rinses. In some cases, over-the-counter pastes and rinses may be doing you more harm than good, depending on your condition.
When should you call us?
Call for our dental services at the earliest if you have symptoms of a cavity that include-
- Pain in the tooth that occurs for no reason or is caused by food, beverages, brushing or flossing
- Sensitivity to hot or cold foods or drinks
Get early treatment for gum disease if you have symptoms that include-
- Red or swollen gums
- Bleeding in the gums when you brush your teeth
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth
- Drifting teeth
At HMC we believe the mouth to be the window to internal health. It is essential to always maintain good dental care and hygiene. While there are preventive steps you can take at home for the same, regular visits to a dentist are extremely important to help you know your teeth and internal health better and maintain a well balanced dental hygiene routine.
To consult with our specialists or book an appointment with us, you can visit us at- https://www.hmcmedicalcenter.com/contact-us/
