Dentistry is an overlooked practice as many people like to avoid dentists at all costs. However, the dental practice has been a critical component of our health since ancient Egyptians’ times.
While we know oral hygiene is essential, many people don’t understand why it’s essential. To find out why dentistry is vital to your overall health, keep reading.
Dentistry and Your Health
Even for regular teeth cleanings, going to the dentist is among Americans’ least favorite thing to do. This is mostly attributed to anxiety and fear. Let’s face it, our mouths are sensitive areas, and those dentistry tools are intimidating—and sharp!
It also doesn’t help that the standard dental office has a less than perfect layout design. Waiting areas tend to feel a bit cold and clinical. Plus, those walls don’t do much to stop the sound of drilling on teeth—which isn’t the most comforting pre-checkup tune.
Despite how you may feel about your local dental office, dentistry is critical to your overall health. We’re not just talking about brushing and flossing regularly, either. Your oral hygiene depends on how you take care of your teeth, gums, and the rest of your body.
From what you eat to regular visits with your dentist, you’ll find that dentistry is an essential part of keeping yourself safe and healthy.
Here are the three reasons why:
1. Oral Health Correlates to Your Overall Health
Poor dental health can lead to a lot of physical problems down the road. There’s a shared belief among medical professionals, including doctors, dentists, and scientists, that most diseases manifest in the mouth.
Something as simple as swollen gums can lead to disease, whether it be inflammation from gingivitis or an infection that leads to asthma or arthritis. Gum disease on its own can cause heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, and can even damage the respiratory system. Moreover, poor oral health can lead to an early death.
Remember: A healthy mouth equals a healthy body.
2. Your Dental Health Affects Your Digestion
Digestion is both a physical and a chemical process. Both processes begin when we chew our food, as our saliva contains special enzymes that help our bodies break down starch and fat. Consequently, what we eat also affects our bile production, resulting in acid reflux—which is corrosive to our teeth.
Additionally, issues with the mouth, such as gum disease, can cause harmful bacteria to travel through the digestive system along with your saliva and food. This can cause gut health issues and conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It can also lead to intestinal failure.
3. Regular Visits to the Dentist Equals Preventative Care
For optimal oral hygiene, you need to visit the dentist every six months.
These visits aren’t just for teeth cleaning and to scold you for not flossing enough—they’re also a preventative measure. Just by taking a look inside your mouth, your dentist can tell if you have acid reflux, vitamin deficiencies, osteoporosis, diabetes, mental health issues, dementia, heart problems, and more.
Be Good to Your Mouth
Now you can see why dentistry is beyond important. So, be good to your mouth by eating healthy, brushing and flossing regularly, and visiting your dentist every six months for a cleaning and preventative check-up.
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