Dental Hygiene and How it Affects Your Health
By Rachel Shouse
You've heard since you were a child how important brushing your teeth twice a day is. Flossing is important as well. If any food or other particles and germs are left behind, in your mouth no less, imagine what that can do to the rest of your body. Your mouth leads to your lungs and stomach. Those two lead to other places and so on. You get it. While many associate good dental hygiene with cavity or gingivitis prevention, there is much more at stake when it comes to your dental health. Educating yourself on the connection between your overall health and your oral health, knowing what conditions are connected to dental hygiene, and how to prevent further problems is an excellent first step.
How Your Dental Hygiene Affects Your Overall Health
As stated above, everyone's mouths are full of bacteria. While most of it is harmless, if the bacteria reaches your lungs or digestive tract it can cause disease.
With a combination of a strong immune system and proper hygiene, most of these germs won't make it to the danger zones. However, if you're not brushing and flossing, those germs just linger.
What Conditions are Connected to Dental Hygiene?
There are a handful of dangerous conditions that are affected by your dental hygiene in a big way. Did you know that a lack of dental hygiene while pregnant can cause premature birth and low birth weight? This happens because of a condition called periodontitis.
Furthermore, poor dental hygiene can also exacerbate other conditions. If you have a disease that impacts your immune system you need to think about the germs entering your body via your mouth. Those with HIV/AIDS can end up with painful mucosal lesions due to poor hygiene. Those with pre-existing conditions really don't need another problem.
Taking Proper Care of Your Teeth and Gums
Most know exactly how to take proper care of their teeth and gums. However, some may like some recommendations. Making brushing your teeth twice a day is a habit you need to implement right away. After you make that a habit, the next step is to begin flossing. While flossing can be difficult and even feel tedious it's very important. Flossing gets to the germs and particles in between your teeth that your toothbrush couldn't reach. They make handy flossing tools nowadays so take advantage of them. Another key step is to make sure that you're brushing is circular motions and be sure to not brush too hard. Your toothbrush should have almost flat bristles.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Hendersonville, Tenn.