Everyone knows that keeping your mouth clean is essential for achieving and maintaining a beautiful smile. However, your oral health influences much more than the appearance of your pearly whites! A growing amount of research indicates that the wellbeing of your mouth has a significant influence on the rest of your body as well as your risk of systemic diseases. Read on to find out how a clean smile can boost your immune system and improve your overall health.
Connecting Oral & Overall Health
Did you know that your Deer Park dentist can tell a lot about the rest of your body just by looking at your mouth? Experts estimate that at least 90% of whole-body, systemic conditions present symptoms in the mouth. That means your dentist may be the first person to identify warning signs of diabetes, kidney disease, or pancreatic cancer by detecting symptoms like swollen gums, chronic dry mouth, or halitosis.
Similarly, the health of your mouth influences the rest of your body. When plaque and bacteria build up in your mouth, they can cause much more than just cavities and bad breath. Serious oral health issues like gum disease and dental infections can significantly increase a person’s risk of problems like respiratory infections, rheumatoid arthritis, memory loss, heart disease, and more. While more research is still needed, most experts believe that this connection is due to the bacteria and inflammation associated with these oral health issues and their impact on the immune system.
How a Healthy Mouth Influences the Immune System
Your mouth is naturally brimming with bacteria. Typically, regular oral hygiene and routine dental checkups are enough to keep these particles in check. However, if they’re allowed to accumulate on your teeth and gums, they can cause problems like tooth decay and gum disease. If these issues are left untreated and allowed to grow, an immune response is triggered to protect your body. The worse these conditions get, the more energy your immune system will focus on combating them. This leaves it less prepared to fight off other viruses or infections that attack your body.
Dental Hygiene Tips to Help Keep You Healthy
Thankfully, you can easily fend off oral health issues and keep your immune system strong by practicing a few healthy habits like:
- Brushing your teeth for a full two minutes twice a day.
- Flossing between your teeth and rinsing with mouthwash daily.
- Seeing your dentist twice a year for a routine dental checkup and cleaning.
- Eating a nutritious, low-sugar diet that includes plenty of foods with vitamin C.
- Drinking water frequently throughout the day and kicking bad habits like using tobacco products.
Remember, your beautiful smile isn’t the only part of you that benefits from great oral hygiene. When you take care of your mouth, your whole body will thank you!
About the Practice
At Deer Park Family Dentistry, we’re dedicated to helping the smiles of Deer Park, TX and the surrounding communities stay happy, healthy, and intact for a lifetime. That’s why we encourage all our patients to come in for their routine dental checkups and cleanings at least twice a year. Our highly trained and experienced team of dental professionals uses precise attention and a gentle touch to spot and stop oral health issues as early as possible. If it’s time to schedule your routine dental checkup, don’t hesitate to contact us via our website or at (281) 479-2841.