From an early age, we are taught to take care of our teeth. Your smile is often the first thing that someone will notice about you, so your dental hygiene is incredibly important in business and personal relationships. But the health of your teeth impacts a lot of other aspects of your life you may not be aware of.
There are many ways to improve and keep up your dental health, like regular brushing, flossing, and visiting dental professionals like those at dentrixdentalcare.com. But why do we bother with all this upkeep?
Well, your dental health can affect more than you think. Here are four ways that your dental health can impact your overall quality of life.
- Confidence
A lot of times, your smile has a huge impact on your overall confidence.
Have you ever avoided smiling in a picture because you felt embarrassed about your teeth? Do you ever cover your mouth when you laugh? Feeling like you have to hide your smile can make you want to smile less.
Whether you’re self-conscious because your teeth are yellow, crooked, or missing, it’s nothing that a trip to the dentist can’t fix.
- Cardiovascular Diseases
Besides mental health reasons, dental care is also crucial for your physical health.
When teeth are left uncared for, your gums can become inflames. This may cause a periodontal disease that can then enter the bloodstream and travel to the arteries in the heart, increasing the risk of heart disease.
It is strange to think that something as simple as brushing and flossing can help to prevent future risk of heart attacks or strokes, but it is true. With the risk of heart disease coming from a lot of other aspects of life like the food that you eat and simply chance, you should not add on another risk factor.
Heart disease is not the only potentially disastrous effect of poor dental hygiene, though.
- Dementia
Much like the dangerous way that periodontal disease travels from the bloodstream to the heart, the bacteria from gingivitis may enter the brain through nerve channels or the bloodstream.
This, unfortunately, can increase your risk of Alzheimer’s. A Taiwanese study found that sufferers of gum disease had a 70% higher chance of developing dementia.
- Respiratory Infections
Dental hygiene is very important for the respiratory system as well. Gum disease can increase your risk of lung infections such as pneumonia or COPD. This is caused by the bacteria you breathe in when you have periodontal disease.
Tips for a Healthy Smile & a Healthy Body
So, what can you do to prevent your dental hygiene from negatively impacting your health and lifestyle?
While it is easiest to start healthy dental habits when you are young, it is never too late to start caring about your teeth.
Get into the habit of brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day, and floss daily. You should also limit your intake of sugary foods and drinks, as these sugars can cause cavities and wear down your enamel.
Acidic foods and drinks can also break down the enamel on your teeth, and enamel will not come back once it is lost.
These healthy habits combined with regular visits to the dentist will ensure that your dental health will be pristine, and you will be able to live your life with confidence and good health.
Overall, your dental health is more important to your life than you think, and it is never too late to change your brushing habits.
