Regular dental check-ups are crucial to keep up the appearance and strength of your teeth as well as your gum health. However, did you know that your level of oral health can influence your overall health?
Certain details of your dental health can point to signs of health issues elsewhere in your body, which is just one reason why it’s so important to maintain positive oral health with regular trips to the dentist.
How Does Oral Health Connect to General Health?
Every system within your body contains millions of bacteria. Most of these are completely harmless and, in fact, help maintain the health of certain organs. However, not all bacteria is helpful or harmless; some bacteria can lead to issues such as bacterial infections, and the mouth is one of the major points of entry into your body from the outside world.
Regular dental maintenance activities like brushing your teeth, flossing, and using mouthwash do more for you than just keep your teeth white and keep your breath smelling fresh. These daily habits can be extremely helpful for reducing the number of harmful bacteria present in your mouth, therefore protecting you from oral issues like decay and gum disease as well as generalized bacterial infections.
Poor dental health has been connected to several well-known conditions including pneumonia, endocarditis, generalized cardiovascular issues, and even complications during pregnancy or birth. On the other hand, several pre-existing conditions can lead to poor dental health including osteoporosis, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes.
The best way to protect the health of your teeth is to keep up regular cleaning activities like brushing, flossing, and mouthwash, as well as a healthy diet with limited sugar intake. You should also avoid tobacco and make sure to schedule regular check-ups with your dentist.
Improve Your Oral Health with Dalton Dental in Tampa, FL
Didn’t answer your questions? Need more information? Give our experts at Dalton Dental a call at (813) 872-8300 and we will be happy to help! You can also Schedule an appointment online.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Hilary Dalton, DMD, MS
Dr. Hilary Dalton owns Dalton Dental, a general and cosmetic dental practice in Tampa, FL. She is board-certified in Periodontology & Dental Implant Surgery and in Procedural Medicine in Aesthetics.
She also holds certifications in microsurgery, laser proficiency, Invisalign, master esthetic facial injector, PRP, and facial laser.
She graduated from Tufts University’s School of Dental Medicine in Boston with an award for Outstanding Leadership and Extraordinary Clinical Achievement.
To learn more about Dr. Hilary Dalton, visit our About page.