Is your oral health as good as it should be? Bleeding gums, sensitive teeth, and other oral health issues are quite common. Unfortunately, many people don’t take their oral health as seriously as they should. Beyond experiencing a bit of discomfort, we may not even think about these issues at all.
In developed regions such as Fresno, California, the matter of oral health might be even less of a priority. With the fast-paced life here, most residents are too busy to think about their teeth. What’s even worse is that that kind of lifestyle can make a healthy diet difficult to follow. Here are some reasons why this is so:
- Easy access to fast food, with several fast food chains providing high-calorie and high-sugar options without the nutrients we need for health.
- There’s high consumption of sugary drinks like sweetened teas, sodas, specialty coffees, etc.
- Most folks aren’t aware of important nutritional information, so they consume food without thinking about how it will affect their oral health.
If you’re living in Fresno, CA, chances are that you’re compromising your oral health. When you neglect this aspect of health, it can have physical effects on the rest of your body.
Why Is Oral Health So Important for Overall Wellbeing?
When a person focuses on brushing properly, flossing, and getting regular dental checkups, the results are beneficial in many ways. Unfortunately, most adults may not visit the dentist until something tangible happens—like a broken tooth or a severe toothache. When they finally get to the dentist, the checkups reveal a host of underlying health issues such as high blood pressure, anemia, tooth fractures, periodontal disease, and so on.
So, if you live in Fresno County, which has a ratio of 63 dentists per 100,000 people, which is in the upper half of the rest of the country (source: data from the Healthy Fresno County), look for a suitable family-friendly orthodontist in Fresno, CA, that can treat you and your family members well.
All in all, a visit to a good family orthodontist might be a top priority! Still not convinced? Here are some reasons why taking care of your dental health can enhance your overall wellbeing and quality of life:
Warding off Diseases
According to several researchers, there is a significant connection between overall wellbeing and oral health. Many tooth-related problems can make a person’s life very miserable.
Gum disease is a primary example of such issues. It’s not just attacking your gums but can also introduce a slew of other illnesses, including:
- Diabetes
- Heart diseases
- Respiratory disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoporosis
A Point of Entry
There’s more than one reason why we bandage up wounds and cuts as soon as possible. It’s not just to speed up their healing but mainly to prevent the entry of germs and bacteria into the body. Our mouth, however, is a permanently open cavity that can be a breeding ground for bad bacteria and other harmful elements.
If we don’t take care of what’s in the mouth, it can frequently introduce infections and diseases into our bodies. If there’s inflammation in the mouth, it can lead to increased inflammation in the rest of the body. When this inflammation reaches major organs like the heart, the resulting conditions can be very serious.
A Connection to Diabetes
Diabetes is an unfortunately common health issue in many developed areas. Several relevant studies show us a relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease. The connection here is mutual; if we treat diabetes, the dental issues will improve. The opposite is also true; an improvement in periodontal disease usually leads to controlled diabetes.
Difficulty in Eating
Tooth decay is a very common disease, especially in the United States. Cavities can also come about as a result of poor oral hygiene. Even if these issues are not advanced, they can lead to a range of problems. These include the following
- Reduced focus on important tasks, both at work and at home
- Depressive thoughts and feelings due to the constant pain and inability to eat what you like
- A loss of appetite, which can result in depression, anxiety, anemia, body pain, weakness, etc.
Main Benefits of Proper Oral Health
Enough of the scary stuff! It’s now time to move to the rewards of maintaining good oral health. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- It will control risks linked to issues like diabetes, heart disease, etc.
- It will help women experience safer pregnancies and might even enhance their fertility
- It can give you a better smile and fresh breath, which can give a boost to self-esteem and confidence
- It can help people feel normal, stay productive, and focused on important tasks
Tips on Improving Oral Care
So, what can we do to maintain good oral care? Here are some tips to start with:
- Brush teeth regularly at least twice or three times a day
- Use a toothbrush with soft bristles
- Consider an electric toothbrush after consulting your dentist
- Use toothpaste with fluoride as one of the major ingredients
- Use an antiseptic mouthwash for rinsing and gargling
- Floss regularly, but take care to use a type that isn’t too waxy
- Put dental checkups on your schedule and make sure to go to them every few months
Think about it; the mouth is where you put food that eventually travels to each part of the body. While your dietary intake is certainly important, consider that all food and drink passes through a set of teeth, gums, tongue, and so on. When this particular part of your health is in a good place, it sets a nice base for the rest of the body.
Overall, it pays to invest your time and money in oral health. Regular checkups at the dentist, brushing, rinsing, and flossing are all part of maintaining your overall health. Make sure to follow the dentist’s orders and eat healthy for the sake of your wellbeing. You’ll have a beautiful smile and an overall positive sense of wellbeing to go along with it!
