Month: November 2022

Patients who haven’t seen a dentist in years make up a good percentage of people with different dental issues. Though they know visiting the dentist is essential, they have put their dental health on hold for financial or other reasons. Therefore, getting dental check-ups done becomes even more vital because it can reduce any sign of bad oral hygiene significantly. 

Moreover, getting teeth cleaned and polishing done during dental hygiene check-ups will give your dentist an idea about your oral health. You will also receive answers to all your questions about dental health from your dentist. Simply put, a dental check-up is an opportunity for you to care for your teeth and ask questions from your dentist. The whole treatment in the dental check-up is done by a hygienist and is filed by an oral exam of your teeth and gums. 

Here are five reasons you should visit your dentist twice a year for your oral health and overall well-being. Gum disease is linked to various health problems, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Therefore, we have given quite a few reasons that you can accept during your dental check-ups to make the most of it.  

Things that your dentist will analyze during the dental check-up

Dental visits are great ways to help increase your overall health. You must pay attention to your dental visits because they can help cure life-threatening dental diseases. Below given are some of the everyday things that you can expect in a dental checkup when you visit your dentist: 

1. Dental check-ups are all about analyzing any underlying oral care issue:  Regular dental check-ups are crucial for many reasons. Dental check-ups help you identify minor problems in your mouth and fix them before you need expensive and invasive procedures, such as root canals.
2. You can get dental fillings: Fillings are temporary structures that need to be replaced every few years to ensure the health of your tooth. However, if you brush and floss regularly, you will have less tooth decay, and regular oral check-ups will also help you in the longer run. Dental visits often include a check on the health of your fillings, allowing you to rest assured that your teeth are in good condition.
3. Analyzing cavities or toothache: Cavities may still exist even when your teeth don’t hurt. In most cases, mild tooth decay goes undetected for a long time due to its lack of symptoms. A dental check-up or visit to your dentist at least twice a year will allow you to detect all problems and treat them as soon as possible.
4. Get a proper examination for gum diseases: An oral examination for gum disease will be performed during routine checkups by the hygienist and dentist. Dental visits and proper oral hygiene can cure gum diseases like gingivitis. You are more likely to relapse into gingivitis or develop the more problematic periodontal disease if you begin to slack off your oral care check-up routine.
5. Dentists will educate you about various terms related to oral health:  Dental check-up is the perfect opportunity to ask the dentist about dental terms and other related questions. Patients’ education is one of the most critical aspects of many dentists’ missions. When it comes to your dental health, there are no dumb questions.

The importance of seeing your dentist and getting a complete check-up at least twice a year cannot be overstated. This is just a small list of some incentives to maintain a healthy smile. Schedule an appointment today if you last saw a dentist a while ago, and pay attention to the importance of these visits. You’ll be glad you did.

People often think that oral health is just about the mouth. However, it is not the case because your oral health also affects the rest of the body. It is vital to understand that to keep your overall health in check; you must take care of your dental routine. Keeping your teeth clean requires more than just selecting a good toothpaste. 

Many factors can contribute to poor oral health, and if not prevented in time, it can also affect other body parts. Carelessness towards the oral care routine is one of the most common reasons, apart from internal factors hampering your teeth. 

The condition of your teeth, gums, and overall mouth says a lot about your physical health. Therefore, it is vital to understand the connection between oral health and how or why it affects the rest of the body.

How are oral health and overall body health related?

The mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria. While many good bacterias are there for a reason and are of no threat, the harmful bacteria sometimes create multiple dental issues. Though brushing, flossing, and cleaning your tongue can keep these germs at bay but not always.

Sometimes other bodily factors also influence your oral health condition. For example, it can lead to abnormal bacteria balance in your mouth, leading to poor oral hygiene like bad breath, cavities, tooth decay, swollen or bleeding gums, and more. When the balance of good and bad bacteria in your mouth goes off balance, it makes you prone to many chronic diseases. 

In addition, many germs can also reduce the saliva production in your mouth, which works as a natural barrier to protect you from many diseases. That is how oral health and the rest of your health are correlated. 

Health issues that may be caused by poor oral health

A few things can happen to the rest of our bodies due to bad oral health. Here are a few diseases and health conditions that happen due to poor oral hygiene:

• Gum diseases can cause heart health issues and Endocarditis (inflammation):  Endocarditis is also called high inflammation in the body, especially around your chest. When a lot of bacteria enter your bloodstream through your mouth, it can cause Endocarditis. And one of its main reasons is poor oral health. If you are suffering from any dental disease, for example, periodontitis, it can lead to heart issues and inflammation in the body, disrupting other bodily functions like digestion. 
• Poor oral health can cause dementia: Some studies suggest that severe dental issues can lead to dementia. In many cases, inflamed gums can release germs and harmful substances that affect our brain cells, resulting in slow brain processing or memory loss. Additionally, gum disease causes inflammation in the brain cells, which increases beta-amyloid plaque formation.
• Neglecting your oral health can lead to Arthritis: The main reason people with poor dental care routines or gum disease are at a higher risk of arthritis is the increased inflammation. With the high amount of bacteria and other germs, the increased inflammation in the body can directly impact healthy cells leading to rheumatoid arthritis.

Now that you know poor dental hygiene is not only limited to your mouth but can also affect the rest of your body parts like the heart, brain, joints, etc., you must take care of your teeth properly. It is easy to maintain a trouble-free yet effective dental care routine. Just remember to floss daily, use toothpaste with fluoride, brush at least twice a day, and visit your dentist often.