Have you ever been lazy with your oral hygiene? Don’t worry, everyone has experienced it at some point. Whether it’s forgetting to brush at night or snacking on too many sweets for one day, it’s surprisingly difficult to stick with a proper dental hygiene plan.
Sadly, your mouth is one of the most important parts of your body to clean. This is because your mouth harbours more bacteria than any other part of your body. When the bacteria has time to grow in your mouth, it can lead to nasty complications such as gum disease and inflammation that could lead to infections.
As a result, it’s important to focus on your oral hygiene as much as any other part of your body. Even if you think it’s expensive to take care of your oral hygiene, you can’t put a price on health. To give you a better idea of what could happen if you don’t take care of your teeth, here are some examples.
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Respiratory Infections
Research has shown that periodontal disease can cause respiratory infections. This informative article by colgate.com goes into great depth on how the buildup of bacteria on your gumline could have a long-term impact on your lungs. With so much bacteria lurking in your mouth, there’s always a risk that it could cause a respiratory issue such as inflammation, or worse, bronchitis. If you’re unlucky, the bacteria from your mouth could even travel to other parts of your body.
Cardiovascular Disease
Did you know that oral health and heart disease are connected? The germs that are present in your mouth can spread to other parts of your body through the bloodstream. If that bacteria reaches the heart, it could cause inflammation and cause complications such as an infection. Clogged arteries and strokes have also been linked to the inflammation that is caused by the oral bacteria. Chronic gum conditions such as gingivitis put your heart at risk of being infected by the bacteria present in your mouth, so make sure you visit a trusted dentist such as horizondentalboise.com to help you clean your mouth and teeth. It may take several visits to completely clear your mouth of bacteria, but it’s worth the effort to reduce the chance that you’ll suffer from a serious condition.
Warning Signs
Some of the common warning signs to look out for are as follows:
- Red bleeding gums that hurt when touched
- Bleeding gums whenever you brush or floss your teeth
- Infections around the gums and teeth
- Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
- Loose teeth
Depending on the severity of your condition, your local dentist can recommend oral and maxillofacial surgery, which treats disease and injuries of the areas adjacent to your mouth. In the past, a family doctor or dentists could direct you to an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. However, today, you can effortlessly find an oral surgeon near you in just a few seconds.
If you have any of these warning signs, then it’s a good idea to pay a visit to your local dentist.
Preventing Health Complications
It’s important to maintain good oral health through the use of examinations and proper teeth cleaning techniques. It’s the best way to keep your teeth clean and it also drastically reduces the chances of you developing a gum disease. Brush twice a day, floss at night and choose the right toothpaste for your needs.