Table of contents:
- What does oral health have to do with your overall health?
- The impact of bad oral health
- How to maintain healthy teeth and mouth?
Health is not everything, but without health, everything is nothing. It is not uncommon for many people to think that health is expensive, whereas what makes it expensive is to recover from illness, not health. Health is also not only about recovering from illness, but also about finding ways to prevent illness. But how?
A simple way to stay healthy is to live, eat healthy and nutritious foods, get enough sleep, consume more water, exercise regularly, and avoid stress. That way, physical health will be maintained. However, did you know that teeth and mouth also really need to be taken care of?
What does oral health have to do with your overall health?
A study shows that poor oral health can lead to various complications of dangerous diseases. So that teeth and mouth are the five vital senses that need priority maintenance.
The oral cavity is one of the entry points for disease-causing bacteria to other parts of the body, both aerobic and anaerobic. In fact, the bacteria in the oral cavity can spread through the bloodstream, which is called bacteremia.
If your oral health is optimal, few bacteria can enter the bloodstream and do no harm to the body. However, if your oral health is not in good condition, the number of bacteria that will enter the bloodstream will increase two to ten times. This can increase the chance of bacteremia to be greater.
Without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can also reach levels that cause oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. In fact, the focal infection theory states that infection in the oral cavity is responsible for the occurrence of three systemic diseases, namely cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and atherosclerosis.
The impact of bad oral health
Some of the diseases that occur due to poor oral health are:
- Gum disease, which, although mild, can get worse if not handled properly. Gum disease or periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss, infections, and other complications.
- Inflammation of the inside of the heart, is called endocarditis. This disease occurs as a result of bacteria in the mouth which are carried by the bloodstream through the bleeding gums.
How to maintain healthy teeth and mouth?
Considering the importance of maintaining healthy teeth and mouth, it is recommended that you maintain healthy teeth and mouth. Some of the things you can do to maintain healthy teeth and mouth are:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste
- Eat a healthy diet, avoid consuming foods that contain excessive sweet / sour
- Change your toothbrush at least every three or four months
- Do not smoke
- Check your teeth and mouth regularly at least every six months to the dentist
Good dental health is a combination of proper daily care starting from brushing your teeth and routine dental and oral health checks to the dentist at least once every six months. So, if you want to have optimal body health, don't forget to take care of your teeth and mouth. Because, taking care of your oral health is an investment in your overall health.
