I’m sure you’ve heard that your mouth contains a lot of bacteria. While this is true, not all of these bacteria are harmful. But, if you are not careful and do not take care of your teeth and use proper dental hygiene, the bacteria will build up and can cause disease in the mouth and other problems in the body.
In the medical community, it is well known that the state and health of the mouth can cause problems elsewhere in the body, and some say that the health of your mouth is an indicator of your overall health.
What Other Diseases Are Connected to Poor Dental Health?
- Cardiovascular disease- some research suggests that this might be linked to inflammation and infections that oral bacteria cause.
- Osteoporosis- this has been linked to periodontal bone loss and tooth loss.
- Alzheimer’s disease- losing your teeth before the age of 35 puts you at risk for this disease.
How to I Protect my Dental Health?
It is important to brush and floss regularly in order to curb bacteria growth in the mouth. As you can see, if this bacteria level raises too high there can be other effects on not only your dental health, but also your overall health. It is also very important to schedule your regular dental check-ups every six months to prevent plaque and tartar build up.