Dental tips provided by Burnaby Dentists at North Burnaby Dental Group.
From childhood on we all hear repeated reminders that proper care for our oral health helps to protect us against cavities and gingivitis — but did you also know that a healthy mouth actually contributes to your overall health?
While it goes without saying that good oral health is important to your appearance and sense of well-being, recent studies have also shown links between poor oral health and many other serious health issues, including heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, diabetes, respiratory diseases, sleeping problems, pregnancy complications, as well as behavioural and developmental problems in children. How is all this possible?
In part, when your mouth is not properly cared for harmful bacteria may begin to run rampant within it, and these bacteria can enter your bloodstream, attaching to fatty plaques in your heart’s blood vessels and contributing to clot formation. Blood clots can obstruct normal blood flow, restricting the amount of nutrients and oxygen required for the heart to function properly, which leads to heart attacks. These bacteria once in the bloodstream can also be responsible for spreading inflammation throughout the body, resulting in a wide variety of problems, some of them very serious. Poor oral health also affects your ability to chew and digest food properly, thus impacting your ability to properly absorb nutrients from what you eat. Yes, proper care for your mouth may have a tremendous impact on a lot more than just how you look.
To maintain good oral health and contribute to the prevention of other health complications, you should take the following steps:
- Brush and floss your teeth daily.
- Visit your dental professional regularly to have your mouth examined. See your dental professional immediately if you notice any problems.
- Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet.
- Do not smoke, as it leads to gum disease and loss of teeth, among countless other oral and health complications. If you do smoke, make sure to visit your dental professional regularly.
- Replace your toothbrush every three months as they become worn out and are not as effective as they once were. If you have gum disease, you should change your toothbrush every four to six weeks because bacteria can harbour in the bristles. You should always rinse your toothbrush out with hot water after every use and replace it after you have been sick.
- Brush your children’s teeth for them until they are coordinated enough to do it for themselves (say, when they are able to tie their own shoelaces or write their own name). At that point though do not leave them to their own devices; properly supervise them to ensure that they are brushing properly.
Without question, as well as helping to maintain a nice smile, paying attention to your oral health may help to prevent much, much more than just a pesky cavity. If you have any questions related to the importance of proper oral health, the dentists at North Burnaby Dental are always happy to help.
