Oral health is important and can be achieved with regular brushing and flossing of your teeth, using mouthwash and eating nutritional foods.
However, did you know that oral health can reveal how the rest of your body is doing? Indeed, oral health is a window to your overall health and that is due in part because of bacteria.
The Bacteria Battle
Everyone’s body has bacteria and most of the time they are harmless. Usually, the body’s natural defenses, daily brushing and flossing, and regular dental check-ups and cleanings can keep bacteria under control. However, if one doesn’t perform good oral hygiene, bacteria can increase to the point where it can lead to oral infections such as gum disease and tooth decay. Oftentimes a buildup of bacteria can even lead to clogging your arteries. Fortunately, with these tips, you can maintain a healthy oral microbiome.
Hooray For Saliva
Some may not know it, but certain medications such as painkillers and diuretics can lessen saliva. This can be a problem because saliva washes away food and neutralizes acids; which protect you from microbial invasion or overgrowth which can lead to disease.
The Health Of Your Mouth Affects Your Body
Poor oral health—such as not brushing and flossing and foregoing dental check-ups—can contribute to medical problems such as:
- An infection in the inner lining of your heart
- Heart disease
- Premature birth
- HIV/AIDS
- Osteoporosis
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Diabetes
This occurs when unchecked bacteria from your mouth enters your body through your lungs and blood.
Safeguard Your Health
Protect your oral health by brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily, eating a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, lean meat, and whole grains, scheduling regular dental checkups, and replacing your toothbrush every three or four months. There are also other ways you can improve your oral health like taking up yoga and eating less candy and fatty foods. Your oral health is responsible for a lot more than just your teeth, but also your heart health.
If you have any questions about your oral health, how it affects the rest of your body, and how to keep it the best it can contact your Los Gatos dentist at (408) 354-5600 today.
