Can Having Bad Teeth Affect Overall Health? | Cheeeese

 

First of all, having bad teeth is one of the severe oral problems. The medical term for bad teeth is commonly referred to as dental caries, also known as tooth decay. In the early stage of tooth decay, you might not notice it as the symptoms are not obvious. When periodontitis is not treated properly, oral bacteria eat away the enamel by producing acid from what you eat.

“Oral health is the gateway to overall wellness. “ Before the signs of bad teeth can be easily spotted, poor oral hygiene might have started affecting your overall health.

Let’s dive into the why and how to prevent it.

Why Can Poor Oral Hygiene Affect Overall Health?

Oral diseases have a lot to do with poor oral hygiene. For example, gum disease is mainly caused by dental bacteria. If dental plaque (soft biofilm) remains long enough on your gums, it forms tartar that can’t be brushed away without dental cleaning. Tartar provides an ideal breeding ground for acid-producing bacteria that can damage and dissolve the enamel of your teeth.

Given the fact that gum health has a connection to your overall health, having healthy gums is critical to maintaining good oral hygiene. In the early stage of gum disease—gingivitis, the common symptoms are gum redness/swelling, bad breath, and the presence of bleeding on the toothbrush. However, if gingivitis is not adequately treated, it can lead to advanced gum disease called periodontitis.

When the oral bacteria breed in the mouth with no proper control, they can sneak into your bloodstream, increasing the risk of systemic diseases. In addition, once the bacteria have entered the bloodstream, they can travel around in your body. This is a big issue.

·         Common diseases linked to poor oral hygiene:

• Oral Thrush
• Gum Infection
• Heart Disease: Endocarditis and Cardiovascular Disease
• Pregnancy Problems: preterm birth, low birth weight

·         Warning signs of your health conditions through oral problems:

• Diabetes
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Osteoporosis
• Coeliac or Crohn's Disease
• Blood disorders
• Bulimia/Anorexia

·         Negative consequences caused by poor oral hygiene:

• Bone loss
• Cancers
• Inflammation of blood vessels
• Hardened arteries
• High blood pressure
• Blood clots
• Fertility problems

As a result, good oral hygiene is vital to maintaining your overall well-being as well as your oral health.

How to Prevent Dental Disease?

·         Starts with a proper oral care routine.

As you can see, gum health plays a vital role in maintaining oral health, so good oral hygiene begins with a proper brushing routine.

The basic rules are to brush your teeth twice and floss once per day. To remove the dental plaque effectively, dentists recommend using an electric toothbrush with multiple bristles supplies for different brushing needs.

To put it simply, ultra-soft bristles can get into your gumlines and teeth gap, while general brush heads don’t serve this function. Sensitive gums can be easily hurt if the bristles are too hard. If the bristles affect your brushing experience, you are less likely to brush long enough until the dental plaque is removed.

Therefore, brushing experience matters for your everyday brushing routine.

·         Shape a healthy diet.

Apart from the nutrition that your teeth and body need, a healthy “dental diet” plays a significant role in dental disease prevention. Having understood the oral systemic connection, you should consider adding some particular food to your diet to boost your dental and overall systemic health, according to the American Dental Association and Mouth Healthy.

Foods/beverages that are beneficial to your dental and overall health:

• Nuts
• Milk
• Dairy products
• Meat
• Poultry
• Fish
• Eggs
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Water is always the best beverage for your body.

Foods that can damage your teeth and health:

• Sugary
• Foods/drinks contain sugar or sugar substitutes
• Processed foods
• Carbonated drinks
• Sports drinks.
• GMO foods (genetically modified foods)

·         Do your dental check-ups regularly

Dentists can spot the signs of early-stage gum disease that can lead to severe oral problems. Gingivitis can be reversed with proper treatments and a corrected brushing routine.

The general rule is to visit your dentist every 6 months. Since every smile is unique, you shouldn’t wait whenever you need a dental check-up.

Key Takeaways

Not only do dental caries (tooth decay) affect your overall health, early-stage dental diseases could increase the risk of systemic diseases. This happens when the oral bacteria enter your bloodstream if oral diseases are not treated properly.

For this reason, practicing good oral care is the best way to prevent dental disease.

Furthermore, you should always watch your “dental diet,” use an ultrasonic toothbrush, and floss at least once every day.

Remember, regular dental check-ups can prevent early-stage dental diseases.