How Oral Health Impacts Your Health as a Whole

Oral health can have an impact on your health as a whole. It is well documented and accepted within the health care community of the link between oral infections and other diseases in the body. It underscores the importance of good oral hygiene and the role of first line dental professionals play in preventing oral disease. First line dental professionals include dental hygienists and denturists. Sadly, few people are aware of this fact, which may be the reason why some people have little regard for oral hygiene and oral health in general.

Like many areas of the body, your mouth is teeming with bacteria. Normally the body's natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, can keep these bacteria under control. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease.

The Benefits of Good Oral Hygiene

In general, oral hygiene is centered around the prevention of accumulation of plaque, tartar and the prevention of health conditions such as dental caries and periodontal disease. With proper oral hygiene, you can also avoid halitosis, or issues like discomfort when wearing dentures. There are even studies linking poor oral health with some types of oral cancer.

Research has shown there is an association between oral disease and other health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, respiratory illness in older adults, as well as pre-term and low-birth-weight babies. Although researchers are just beginning to understand this relationship, evidence shows that oral disease can aggravate other health problems and that keeping a healthy mouth is an important part of leading a healthy life.

Fortunately, pharmacists, dentists, and denturists can provide a lot of valuable advice on the importance of proper oral hygiene and elaborate on the benefits of taking preventive measures against common oral health problems to their clients.

Many products intended to aid in oral hygiene are nonprescription, which means that pharmacists can safely sell them to patients. Additionally, given their unique positions, these medical professionals can also determine the best pharmacological interventions for people in need of these products as they deal with dental problems.

What You Can Do to Ensure Good Oral Hygiene

Even when giving oral hygiene all the importance it deserves, it is important to follow the correct procedure to avoid bringing about more oral health problems in the process. For instance, using a gentle toothbrush is important, as a brush with hard bristles can often lead to gum damage. In fact, the gums can start receding when brushed extensively with a tough toothbrush. Often this will result in temporary gum health issues like swelling, blood, and reddening.

Gum recession can also result in more serious problems such as tooth loss. However, poor brushing habits is not the only problem that can bring about gum recession. For instance, there are people who grind their teeth in their sleep, which can bring about a number of dental health issues in addition to gum recession. In such cases, wearing a nighttime mouth guard can help. However, this intervention should come about with the help of a qualified dental professional.

In general, proper use of effective oral hygiene, products is necessary, even at a young age. Children should be educated on the importance of effective regular brushing and flossing, as well as the need to have regular dental checkups for optimal oral health. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources that teach the benefits of proper oral health; and these can help people know how to avoid oral health problems that many people face on a regular basis simply for lack of adequate information on how to take proper care of their oral health.

Seeing your dental professional regularly helps keep your mouth in top shape and allows your dentist to watch for developments that may point to other health issues. A dental exam can also detect poor nutrition and hygiene, growth and development problems and improper jaw alignment. Provide your dentist with a complete medical history and inform him or her of any recent health developments, even if they seem unrelated to your oral health.

For more professional advice on proper oral health, contact your denturist at St Catharines Denture Clinic today.