Does Good Oral Health Contribute To Overall Body Health?

Brushing your teeth and maintaining good oral health every day might seem like a menial and boring task but there are many benefits of doing it. Besides the fact that you will get a bright smile from regular brushing, you can also enjoy numerous benefits to the rest of your body. Thanks to exceptional oral care, you can improve the body’s overall health and reduce the risks associated with serious illnesses. Here are some good examples.

Boosting Confidence And Self-Esteem

An individual with gum disease, decayed teeth or other dental issues will have an unsightly mouth and very often, terrible breath. As a result, it can affect your self-image, confidence and also your self-esteem. By maintaining good oral health, you can improve your quality of life accordingly. For instance, your dieting habits, sleeping, and daily habits will improve considerably. That’s because there are no infections or aches to distract you from being successful during your day.

Reduced Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease

Gum disease often promotes chronic inflammation that’s associated with cardiovascular illnesses such as blocked blood vessels, heart disease, and stroke. Numerous studies have identified the relationship between dental health and cardiovascular illnesses. Great dental care will simultaneously improve overall health, especially by reducing the risk of getting cardiovascular diseases through the reduction (or elimination) of inflamation through poor oral health.

Improve Your Memory

Expert studies reveal that adults with gum disease performed worse on memory tests and cognitive skills than their counterparts who had healthy mouths and gums. The report, posted on a popular medical journal, identified the relation between dental health and the brain’s memory function. The results identified that people with dental care issues had issues with subtraction and delayed verbal recall, common every day skills. To counteract the problem, participants were advised to use antibacterial toothpaste or mouthwash to reduce any risks of getting gingivitis from oral bacteria.

Reduced Inflammations And Infections

Due to poor dental health, the body is likely to develop infections in numerous other areas. Several research studies identified the relationship between dental illnesses and autoimmune diseases as well as rheumatoid arthritis, known for causing joint inflammation. Experts have identified that similar mechanisms are in place for causing connective tissue issues such as the case of rheumatoid arthritis as well as gum disease. To reduce the risks, one should practice exceptional oral hygiene, eat a balanced diet and visit the dentist on a regular basis.

Stabilizing Blood Sugar Levels

Diabetics often suffer from gum disease issues. With the disease, it’s difficult to fight any infections in the mouth that can lead to gum diseases. A diabetic is more likely to suffer from terrible gum problems than a non-diabetic. As a result, it might be more difficult to control or stabilize the sugar levels in the blood. If you’re a diabetic, it’s prudent to take note of your oral hygiene, thus stabilizing the sugar levels.

Higher Chances Of Term Pregnancies

Many women suffer through miscarriages more often than not. Every case is entirely different and it’s always difficult to identify the cause of the miscarriage. Experts have associated poor oral health to some miscarriages though. During pregnancy, many women suffer from gum diseases such as gingivitis. It’s also been identified that gum diseases can lead to infants being born with very low weight. On that note, it’s advisable for pregnant women to maintain exceptional oral hygiene by visiting the dentist as regularly as possible.

In conclusion, proper oral hygiene is linked to most parts of the body - good and bad. Therefore, if you take good care of your teeth and mouth and practice great oral health as advised by your dentist, you’re less likely to suffer from any of the issues mentioned above. Follow the proper routines for oral care regularly and keep your body free from other infections and inflammations as a bonus.

3/1/2016 8:00:00 AM
Ed Harrison
Written by Ed Harrison
Edward W. Harrison is a retired law enforcement executive with the California State University System , Northridge , CA. He has over 30 years of experience in public and private service in the criminal justice arena. Upon retirement, Ed became a co-owner and practitioner in the discount dental and healthcare industry wit...
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