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You may not realize it, but your oral health actually impacts the health of the rest of your body. Find out more about the importance of maintaining the health of your teeth and gums here.
There are many things you can do to live a healthy lifestyle. You can exercise, eat a nutritious diet, and maintain a healthy weight. But did you know that keeping up with a good oral hygiene routine is also vital for the overall health of your body?
At Hanachi Orthodontics located in Gastonia and Mooresville, North Carolina, our team led by Farid Hanachi, DDS, PA, understands the key role that your oral health plays in your well-being and quality of life. Here’s why maintaining good oral health is so important and how to do it.
How oral health connects to your general health
Your mouth is full of mostly harmless bacteria. However, if certain bacteria is allowed to multiply and is able to make its way to your digestive and respiratory tracts, it can lead to disease.
Usually, your body is good at defending itself against this bad bacteria. But, if you don’t take good care of your teeth and gums, your body’s defenses aren’t able to keep up. This can lead to infections such as tooth decay and gum disease.
Studies have suggested that these oral infections can lead to certain health conditions since the infected bacteria can make its way into your bloodstream. Conditions that poor oral health and hygiene can lead to include endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, pneumonia, and even a stroke.
On the other hand, health issues like diabetes, osteoporosis, Alzhemier’s disease, and HIV/AIDS can deteriorate your oral health quickly, making it extra important that you stay on top of caring for your teeth and gums if you have one of these.
What does good oral hygiene look like?
There are many habits you can adopt in order to keep up with good oral hygiene, but these are a few to get you started:
Keep a good brushing routine
The key to a good brushing routine is to brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste that contains fluoride. Always brush your tongue and never skip brushing your teeth before going to bed.
Don’t forget to floss
Even though flossing is great for getting that leftover food out of your teeth, it does so much more than that. Flossing stimulates your gums, reduces inflammation, and gets rid of plaque buildup — all of which can reduce your risk for gum disease.
Use mouthwash
Mouthwash is a great tool you can use in order to clean areas that are hard to reach with brushing and flossing alone. In addition, using an antibacterial mouthwash can reduce the amount of acid in your mouth.
Combining all these healthy habits can ensure that you not only have a healthy mouth, but an overall healthy body as well.
If you’d like to learn more about how to practice good oral hygiene, contact our office for more information or to schedule a consultation. You can do this by calling your nearest office location or by using our online booking tool today.