Oral Health Can Affect Overall Health

Did you know that there is a connection between oral health and your overall health?  Getting regular dental care and routine checkups is the first in caring for your teeth, mouth and gums. Bacteria forms in your mouth, most is good, some can be bad. Regular brushing and flossing helps to keep bacteria under control. Sometimes other factors can affect the normal balance of these bacteria. This can result in infections in the mouth, gum disease, or tooth decay.

Bad bacteria grows in the mouth when the mouth is “out of balance”. This happens when taking certain medications or as a result of other factors that reduce the amount of saliva in your mouth. This can lead bad bacteria from the mouth to enter the bloodstream, causing illness.

What health conditions can arise as a result of poor oral health? Gum disease has been linked to such cardiovascular disease. It is also possible that periodontitis, which is a more serious for of gum disease, may attribute to heart disease, stroke, and clogged arteries.

To keep your mouth healthy, brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least two times per day and floss at every day. Drinking a glass of water 30 minutes after you eat helps to keep you teeth clean. Also, be sure to have regular dental checkups for cleaning, exams, and x-rays.

Oral health is not just important to your mouth, but to your overall health in general. For oral health care and preventative care, contact Oyster Point Dentistry.