Oral diseases affect 3.9 billion people in the world and for many of these people, their dental problems end up affecting other parts of their body.
The truth is that you need to take care of your teeth for reasons other than the aesthetics or your teeth sensitivity. Your oral hygiene —or lack thereof—ultimately has an impact on your overall health in many different ways.
Don’t know what we’re talking about?
Keep reading to find out why brushing your teeth, flossing and eating the right foods is so vital to having a healthy mouth and a healthy body!
1. Gum Disease Can Affect Your Heart
Periodontitis is a gum disease caused by a growth of bacteria in your mouth, that ends up damaging not only your gums but also your teeth.
There are several stages to this disease and, when it becomes severe, it can cause heart disease. This happens because the bacteria may enter your bloodstream and harden your arteries, which can ultimately lead to heart attacks and strokes.
2. Gum Disease Can Increase Risk of Preterm Birth
If you’re pregnant, you need to be extra careful with your body. After all, for nine months, you have an extra tenant that needs your help to grow healthy and strong.
If you don’t take care of your teeth and gum, you might end up getting periodontitis and your body’s immune reaction to this condition might result in the premature birth of your baby.
Even if the baby is born at the right time, there’s a high risk that he or she will weigh less than ideal, which can result in health complications for the little one.
3. Mouth Bacteria Can Affect Your Respiratory Health
Bacteria can easily find its way from your mouth to your lungs and that can negatively impact your respiratory health.
This happens when you breathe in tooth plaque, which you accumulate when you don’t brush your teeth and floss on a daily basis, and it can lead to pneumonia and acute bronchitis.
4. Oral Issues Can Affect Your Mental Health
When you struggle with tooth decay or gum disease, you might think twice before smiling and talking. Your teeth and gums don’t look their best and your dental issues might cause you to have bad breath.
Leaving these issues untreated and constantly being wary of how you look and how your mouth smell prevents you from enjoying your life to the fullest. Eventually, this all starts taking a toll on your self-esteem and affects your mental health.
Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body!
Having a healthy mouth is all about adopting the right habits and maintaining the best oral hygiene routine you can.
Take some time out of your day to properly clean your teeth, avoid foods and drinks with a lot of sugar, and visit your dentist regularly. Your whole body will be thankful!
If you have any questions about dental hygiene, don’t hesitate to send us a message. We’ll be more than happy to help you!