The human body is fascinating in it’s beautiful complexity. Like how, for instance, the different parts of the body are intertwined in an amazing network. This connection provides the basis for multiple forms of alternative medicine and treatment methods, such as reflexology. If you are unfamiliar, reflexology is an ancient practice that uses pressure applied to specific areas of the hands and feet to elicit a response in another part of the body. Essentially, the hands and feet act as a connection point for the whole body. Now, how intriguing does that sound?
In a similar vein, did you know that your oral health affects the rest of your body? Well, it’s true — and that just like the hands and feet in reflexology, your mouth is a connection point. This article has more details:
Did you know that your oral health offers clues about your overall health — or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body? Protect yourself by learning more about the connection between your oral health and overall health.
What’s the connection between oral health and overall health?
Like other areas of the body, your mouth teems with bacteria — mostly harmless. But your mouth is the entry point to your digestive and respiratory tracts, and some of these bacteria can cause disease.
Normally the body’s natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, keep 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. Read more at Mayo Clinic…
Poor oral health goes beyond just having unclean teeth. Oral bacteria can end up causing severe health problems like endocarditis or cardiovascular disease. So, it is best to ensure your oral health is in optimum condition.
So, what should you be looking for and taking care of — beyond sticking to your normal daily oral hygiene routine? Glad you asked. The piece below addresses some common oral health issues that you shouldn’t ignore.
Bad Breath
Bad breath, also called halitosis, can be downright embarrassing. According to dental studies, about 85 percent of people with persistent bad breath have a dental condition that is to blame.1 Gum disease, cavities, oral cancer, dry mouth, and bacteria on the tongue are some of the dental problems that can cause bad breath.
Using mouthwash to cover up bad breath when a dental problem is present will only mask the odor and not cure it. If you have chronic bad breath, visit your dentist to rule out any of these problems.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay, also known as cavities, is the second only to the common cold as the most prevalent disease in the United States.2 Read more at Verywell Health…
Dentists recommend regular dental checkups because diligence is the key to maintaining good oral health by catching issues early in their development. Gum disease, for example, won’t be free to thrive and create problems if you keep up with your regular dental visits.
With age, our bodies begin to break down more often and develop additional health challenges. Our oral health is no exception to this rule. The older we get the more dental issues we will face. The following post examines some of the possible concerns:
Oral health problems in older adults include the following:
Untreated tooth decay. Nearly all adults (96%) aged 65 years or older have had a cavity; 1 in 5 have untreated tooth decay.
Gum disease. A high percentage of older adults have gum disease. About 2 in 3 (68%) adults aged 65 years or older have gum disease.
Tooth loss. Nearly 1 in 5 of adults aged 65 or older have lost all of their teeth. Complete tooth loss is twice as prevalent among adults aged 75 and older (26%) compared with adults aged 65-74 (13%). Having missing teeth or wearing dentures can affect nutrition, because people without teeth or with dentures often prefer soft, easily chewed foods instead of foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Read more at CDC…
As you can see, being diligent and consistent with your home and professional dental care is vital for good health. If you feel like your teeth and gums need more attention than you’ve been giving them, you can rely on the superior dental services at Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne to get your issues sorted. Call us today 704-206-1330 or use the contact form on our website to make your appointment. We look forward to hearing from you.
