Dental Hygiene
When most people think about maintaining a healthy mouth, they only think about maintaining healthy teeth and gums, and the prevention of issues such as gum disease and cavities. While these aspects of dental hygiene are important, they are not the only ones. Dental hygiene is important for maintaining so much more than the health of your mouth. Florida Prosthodontics can help.
Good Nutrition
Your teeth are the first step in digestion. Chewing your food breaks it down so that your body can later easily absorb the nutrients. Poor oral hygiene can lead to cavities, gum disease, infections, and even tooth loss, all of which can impair your ability to chew. Poor chewing makes it harder for your body to access nutrients in the foods you eat. As a result, your nutrition suffers. By maintaining good oral hygiene, you keep your teeth healthy, ensuring that they can effectively chew your food.
Keeping Lungs Healthy
When you have gum disease, there is an overabundance of bacteria in your mouth. If you breathe through your mouth, you can inhale the bacteria, taking it right into your lungs. The lungs are a warm, moist environment, perfect for fostering bacterial growth. This can quickly lead to pneumonia or a worsening of issues such as COPD and asthma. Dental hygiene helps to prevent, or at least lessen, the effects of these lung issues.
Disease Prevention
When issues such as gum disease or tooth infections are present, bacteria can find its way into the bloodstream. Once there, the bacteria can then travel throughout the body, causing inflammation wherever it goes. This inflammation can increase your risk for issues such as heart disease and stroke. It can worsen the effects of diabetes, making it more difficult to control. Oral health issues can also increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer, such as pancreatic cancer, as well as dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Protecting your oral health with good dental hygiene helps to keep your whole body healthy, lowering your risk of developing these issues and more.
Oral Health and Pregnancy
Dental hygiene is important for everyone. It is especially important for pregnant women. The hormonal changes that women go through during pregnancy can significantly increase the risk of developing gum disease. Pregnant women who have gum disease are at a much greater risk of experiencing pre-term birth or having babies with a low birth weight. Maintaining good oral hygiene during pregnancy will help to not only protect the health of the mother but the health of the unborn baby as well.
Mental Health
There is a saying that goes if you look good, you feel good. When you are faced with oral health issues such as damaged teeth, infections, or gum disease, your smile may be suffering. As a result, your confidence can take a serious hit. Your social life, your romantic life, and your mental health are all affected. Those faced with oral health issues are at a much greater risk of being faced with depression. Maintaining good oral hygiene helps to keep your smile beautiful, which helps to keep you confident.
Maintaining Good Dental Hygiene
Maintaining good dental hygiene involves several important components. Oral hygiene starts at home. It is important that you brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. Regular dental cleanings and exams are also critical components. These should be done at least twice a year.
If you have any questions or concerns about your dental hygiene, call Florida Prosthodontics today at (321) 452-3388.
Merritt Island