Keeping good oral hygiene is beneficial to more than just your teeth.
The World Health Organisation describes oral health as a key indicator of overall health, well-being, and quality of life. It’s no secret that the efforts you make towards a healthy smile also help your mind and body long-term.
No matter your age or background, it’s always worth knowing why to take dental health seriously.
What’s the key role of dental health?
Dental health is crucial to overall wellbeing because our teeth impact day-to-day life. A few aspects of health and routine directly linked to oral hygiene include:
. Disease prevention
Poor oral hygiene is linked to several health conditions, especially gum disease. Without timely intervention, many of these can deteriorate and lead to complications or additional illnesses.
. Eating
Healthy teeth and gums allow us to eat and drink comfortably, efficiently, and without pain. It can be tricky to chew with damaged and missing teeth. Drinking hot or ice-cold beverages is also painful for people with sensitive teeth.
. Appearance
Teeth boost our confidence and self-esteem, playing an important role in the way we see ourselves and deal with everyday interactions. Following a routine of regular brushing and using dental flossers makes all the difference to your smile.
. Speaking
From our accents to overall pronunciation, our teeth play an important role in speech. Some dental issues, including crooked teeth or a misaligned bite, can cause speech impediments like whistling, slurring, or a lisp.
What are the consequences of poor oral health?
Along with increased risk of gum disease and related conditions, poor dental hygiene affects the rest of the body in different ways. Just a few of these include:
- Heart health: Bacteria in the mouth has been linked to an infection of the heart muscle lining, known as endocarditis. Due to inflammation caused by bacteria, people with gum disease may also face higher risk of other cardiovascular conditions.
- Bacterial buildup: Brushing teeth removes dirt, plaque, and food debris. If these are left to accumulate in the mouth, bacteria grow with harmful consequences.
- Pregnancy risks: Medical research suggests that bad oral health during pregnancy may lead to low birth weights, premature delivery, pre-eclampsia and other conditions.
- Infections: In advanced cases of gum disease, it’s possible for bacteria to enter the bloodstream. This can lead to infections in other parts of the body.
Improving your dental hygiene: Our 3 top tips
The best way to keep on top of your oral health is to establish a simple yet effective routine. A few of our top tips include:
- Brush your teeth at allocated times every day. Brushing twice is frequently enough in most cases, but make sure you are brushing thoroughly and with gentle, circular motions.
- Clean between teeth with dental floss, water floss, or an interdental brush. This removes particles between your teeth, reduces inflammation, and stimulates blood flow to the gums.
- Stay hydrated: This washes food particles away from your teeth, reduces the effects of sticky or abrasive foods and drinks, and helps to reduce staining on the teeth.