Oral health is crucial to maintain as it has a direct influence on your overall health. When we refer to oral health, it includes teeth, bones, gums, muscles, glands, and nerves. The state of your oral health can also show signs of deficiencies in nutrition or general infections. Moreover, your mouth is home to different bacteria, some of which can cause gum disease or lead to tooth decay.
More importantly, oral health can substantially impact the quality of daily human functions like talking, swallowing or breathing.
What conditions can link to bad oral health?
Bad oral health has the probability to be associated with conditions like:
- Heart Attacks and Strokes: People with gum disease are twice as likely to die from a heart attack and three times likely to have a stroke.
- Cardiovascular Diseases: Studies suggest that inflammation and infections due to oral bacteria show a connection to cases of cardiovascular diseases.
- Respiratory Infections: Some respiratory infections and pneumonia can be linked to certain oral bacteria due to their ability to pull into your lungs.
- HIV/AIDS & Diabetes: Conditions such as HIV/ AIDS and diabetes can lower your body’s ability to resist infection, increasing the probability of oral health problems.
What are the signs of bad oral health?
If you experience the following, we encourage you to book an appointment with us:
- Once you’ve completed brushing and flossing your teeth, you notice your gums are bleeding
- You notice that your gums are tender or red
- Your breath is continuously bad or unpleasant
- You notice growths inside your mouth
- When you notice your teeth becoming loose
- You notice there is a change in your bite
- You experience tooth pain
Fortunately, instances of the above conditions can be drastically decreased by good oral health care.
How do I achieve good oral health at home?
By implementing good oral health practices at home, you can manage the bacterial levels in your mouth.
Try and incorporate the following in your daily routine:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
- Ensure you use a good quality toothbrush with soft bristles
- Floss your teeth daily to remove unwanted food items in between teeth
- Ensure you maintain a balanced diet by limiting sugar intake
- Monitor your intake of alcohol and avoid smoking
- Ensure your toothbrush isn’t stored close to the toilet
- Replace your toothbrush every third month or if the bristles show signs of being worn out
When should I visit the oral hygienist?
We recommend visiting our oral hygienist every 6 months to ensure that she can assess the current status of your oral health. Most importantly, we recommend booking an appointment if you experience any of the previously mentioned symptoms. Some people may need to visit the hygienist more often than every six months, our oral hygienist will let you know if she recommends visiting more often.
Book your dental check-up now!
