Maintaining your teeth isn’t only about looking good. Most of the dental issues are somehow related to our poor dental hygiene, which lead to problems that are much bigger than an unpleasant smile.
Tooth decay and gum disease can affect other parts of our body that includes our heart too.
Why is it important to practice good dental hygiene?
Dr. Nand Kumar Nandasundaram, Consultant oral & maxillofacial surgeon said, “World oral health day is important as it brings focus on oral hygiene, oral health, prevention of problems like tooth decay, gum disease, oral cancer, and pre-cancer. Basic dental health needs to be maintained by visiting a dentist once in three months. With the availability of advanced digital technology, dentistry has gone far ahead to the changing needs of society. Dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, dental lasers, and the use of Aligners have made dentistry relatively a painless process. A simple chair side exam in a dental clinic can help in screening for dental problems, pre-cancer as a routine preventive measure. External beautification on the face needs to be complemented by good oral health and hygiene without bad breath, well-aligned teeth. Brushing alone at home cannot help in maintaining oral hygiene. You need to visit a dentist for professional cleaning, that is the bare minimum”.
Good oral or dental health is related to good overall health and other dental problems like cavities or gum. These diseases can damage our ability to eat and speak and can cause pain and bad breath.
Many people fail to realize that poor health can have a negative effect on the areas of the mouth that can be related to heart, diabetes, pregnancy, and chronic inflammation.
According to some studies, bacteria in gum can travel to your heart and cause heart disease, clogged arteries or stroke. Gum infections, such as periodontitis, have been linked to premature births and low-birth-weight in pregnant women. Diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infection, making the gums more susceptible to infection, which can adversely affect blood sugar. And painful mouth sores, are common in people who have HIV.
