What Happens When You Don’t Care for Your Teeth and Gums
Taking good care of your teeth and gums results in a brighter smile. Though a set of sparkly whites is enough to motivate some, what must be understood is that practicing good oral hygiene goes beyond that. Brushing your teeth, flossing, being mindful of the foods you eat, and even paying regular visits to your family dentist is vital to more than just your oral health, but your overall health. Not caring for your teeth and gums properly can actually lead to a lot more than bad breath and a yellow smile. Here are some of the consequences:
Gum Disease
When plaque builds up around the teeth and gums, it can lead to gum disease. Usually detected by the onset of bleeding gums, this disease can wreak havoc on your teeth, gums, and bone structure. Gingivitis is a milder form of gum disease and can cause the gums to swell and bleed or become red in appearance. Periodontitis, a more extreme version, is when the plaque starts to break down tissues and bones in the mouth which lead way to infection.
Prevention: Brushing your teeth and flossing after meals as well as swishing your mouth with mouthwash to get rid of any food or bacteria can minimize the chances of getting gum disease. Regular cleanings from dental practices like Fenton Family Dentistry can also keep plaque from building up.
Tooth Loss
Got a cavity that hasn’t been filled or gum disease that continues to spread? If so, you should be fully aware that this could lead to tooth loss. Though bridges, partials, and dentures can replace missing teeth it can be a long and tedious process that requires multiple visits to the dentist. Not to mention it costs quite a bit to get done.
Prevention: Outside of brushing your teeth and flossing regularly, to reduce the likelihood that you’ll lose teeth it is vital that you reduce your sugar intake, and also keep your dental appointments with https://laserdent.ch/ every six months. Dentists can detect cavities or gum disease early on to start treatment which can often save your teeth.
Diabetic Complications
If you suffer from diabetes already, you should know that poor dental health can cause your blood sugar levels to rise. Particularly when there is an infection present in the body, it raises blood sugar levels making diabetes much harder to control and periodontitis a lot more challenging to get rid of.
Prevention: Taking care of your diabetes is a top priority for those who already suffer from it. Be mindful of the amount of sugar you’re taking in and be sure to take care of your teeth and gums with regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing. At the very presence of an oral infection, you should see a dental professional right away.
Pneumonia
Most people aren’t aware of this, but the pathogens that are present in your mouth can easily find their way into your lungs and the rest of your body with every breath you take. Should you have poor oral health and inhale nasty pathogens and bacteria, you increase your chances of catching pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses.
Prevention: You really need to boost your oral health to minimize the risks of getting hospitalized from pneumonia. Brush, floss, and rinse, and also make sure you’re visiting your dentist regularly for early detection of disease or infection.
This is only the beginning when it comes to all the consequences that could derive from not completing a few simple steps. As you can see, your oral health can cause problems throughout your body and make existing issues even worse. Start improving your oral hygiene today to reduce the chances of these things happening to you. Most importantly, make sure that you find a reliable family dentist you can visit for screenings, early detection, cleanings, and treatment for unresolved matters before they get worse.
