Even if you brush regularly and visit the dentist on a regular schedule, your mouth still remains one of the dirtiest parts of the body. Because of this, a bright and dazzling smile is much more important that simply making a great first impression. As a matter of fact, a clean and healthy smile can actually be a huge factor in keeping a healthy body.
Think of it this way: your mouth is the first step in the digestion process and it is loaded with germs. That’s why your mouth stings faintly when you rinse with mouthwash; bacteria are being killed and your mouth is literally being disinfected. If you get even the slightest little cut in your mouth, all of those bacteria have a very easy way of getting into your bloodstream. Once that happens, you are prone to any number of illnesses or infections.
Gum disease is perhaps the clearest link between how oral hygiene issues can lead to poor health. Recent studies have shown that individuals with gum disease have a much higher risk of suffering from heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. Gum disease starts off as as the white film that collects on our teeth, called plaque. If plaque isn’t stopped by proper brushing, it can then evolve into gingivitis. While gingivitis in and of itself isn’t too severe, it can become very dangerous if left properly untreated by a dentist, as it is the precursor to gum disease. A dentist will be able to treat such symptoms with a standard office visit.
If symptoms of gum disease aren’t caught by this stage, gingivitis can then evolve into periodontitis. This stage can lead to severe inflammation of the gums and deterioration of the gums and area of jaw bones that surrounds and supports the teeth. As such an infection begins to take hold, the human body begins to responds and can cause many people to get sick.
So as you can see, one thing leads to another. As long as you take care of your teeth, gum disease should not be a concern for you. And by keeping away gum disease, studied indicate that you decrease your likelihood of heart ailments or diabetes later in life.
It is evident that keeping a bright smile and good oral hygiene habits is more than simply good dental advice. The health of your teeth bears weight on the condition of the rest of your body. So if you can practice great oral hygiene habits, you are taking an extra necessary step to ensure a healthy lifestyle.
If you have further questions about how you can help keep your mouth at its cleanest and your smile at its brightest, contact Tribeca Dental or other dentists in the Brooklyn area today.
