Importance Of Oral Hygiene In Daily Life
It is important to take care of your mouth, teeth and gums. Great oral and dental cleanliness can prevent bad breath, tooth rot and gum infection. Research clearly indicates that good oral hygiene reduces your risk of serious health issues. On the other hand, quite a number of health problems like heart attack, diabetes and preterm labour are related to poor oral health. In fact, a swab of saliva can reveal a lot about your overall health.
Here are a few things that you must know about oral hygiene
- Oral signs and indications: Your mouth reflects your general health and some of the early signs of systemic diseases are often visible in your mouth. Serious systemic conditions like AIDS and diabetes often become visible first in the form of mouth lesions or other oral issues.
- Saliva testing: Saliva is considered to be an important diagnostic tool and can reflect a number of health problems. The level of cortisol in saliva can reflect stress responses in newborn. Certain types of cancer can also be detected through a saliva test.
- Saliva as a defence tool: Saliva is also the body’s primary defence tool against disease causing agents like bacteria and virus. Saliva contains antibodies that can shield your body from pathogens. Enzymes in saliva can protect your body against harmful bacteria. Even though saliva can defend your body against harmful bacteria and viruses, there are as many as 500 species of bacteria thriving in the mouth. They form plaque that can stick to your mouth and cause health issues. Poor oral hygiene makes way for additional bacteria to accumulate between your gums and teeth. This is a form of gum infection known as gingivitis and it can further aggravate into periodontitis and trench mouth. In certain cases, bacteria from the mouth can even enter your bloodstream and can cause infections in other parts of your body. If your immune system is strong, your body may be able to fight against the bacteria. However, in case your immune system has become weak due to any other disease, the bacteria in your bloodstream can worsen your health.
- The link between oral health and other diseases: Gum infections can lead to tooth loss. However, the impact of poor dental health is not limited to this.
Recent studies indicate a close link between poor oral health and the following diseases:
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Preterm birth
Chronic gum disease can make it even more difficult to control diabetes. Mouth infections can lead to insulin resistance that can disrupt blood sugar level.
Gingivitis might lead to clogged arteries as the bacteria from your mouth can cause inflammation throughout your body. The inflammation raises the risk of a stroke.
Gum diseases can also increase the risk of preterm delivery or cause a low birth weight of the baby. It is believed that oral bacteria can release toxins that can reach the placenta and impact the development of the fetus.
The fact that the impact of oral health is just not limited to your mouth is reason enough to maintain good oral health. Ensuring oral hygiene is a great investment on your overall health and will surely help in the long-run.
If you have symptoms of any oral issues, make sure to visit your dentist at the earliest. It will not only prevent the problem from aggravating further but will also save you time and money later.
If you are looking for an efficient dental service in Brunswick, visit Lygon Family Dental. We are your one-stop platform for all types of dental issues. Our dental solutions cover all aspects of general and cosmetic dentistry. We use the latest techniques to offer effective and relaxing treatment to our patients. If you wish to know more about our service, get in touch with us.
You can email us at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can also call us on (03) 9939 0323
