How Good Dental Care Can Improve Your Quality Of Life

Smile teeth

When it comes to good dental care, it’s never too late to visit the dentist. Whether you’re unsure how to properly care for your teeth or struggle with anxiety, dentists are here to help you and can make the process of improving your quality of life through good dental care simple. A healthy mouth is critical for your overall health, mental health, and social life.

How Overall Health Is Connected To Dental Hygiene

Your mouth is the entry point to your respiratory systems, digestive tracts, and your body in general. It is the home of your oral microbiome, which is a diverse collection of living microorganisms that play essential roles in overall health. However, the bacteria in your mouth can lead to oral infections such as gum disease or tooth decay without proper dental hygiene. Additionally, gum inflammation, low saliva flow and other factors can lead to severe oral health issues that can impact your overall health.

Diseases Linked To Poor Oral Health

Understanding how your dental hygiene is linked to overall health is vital, and there are many diseases and issues that have been linked to poor oral health, such as endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, pneumonia, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. 

Endocarditis

Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers or valves, which typically occurs when germs or bacteria from other parts of the body such as the mouth spread through the bloodstream and attach to the heart. 

Cardiovascular disease

While more research is needed to fully understand the connection, some studies have found the heart disease, stroke, and clogged arteries may be connected to the inflammation and infections caused by oral bacteria as a result of poor dental hygiene. 

Pneumonia

As the bacteria in your mouth can be pulled into your lungs, it has been found that when you have poor oral health, it can lead to many respiratory diseases and pneumonia. 

Diabetes

Studies have found that people who develop gum disease typically find it more challenging to control their blood sugar levels which could lead to diabetes.

sugar food

Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers have linked poor oral health to the health of your brain and has been connected to the worsening oral health seen as Alzheimer’s disease progresses.

While the above conditions may seem frightening, it’s important to understand how your oral health plays a significant part in the health of your body and how taking care of your mouth will lead to a higher quality of life.

How To Maintain Dental Care

There are plenty of ways you can maintain your dental care at home in between dental visits. However, if you find you are struggling with any of the steps of proper oral hygiene, such as flossing, your dentist can walk you through how to perform them correctly. 

  • Brush teeth thoroughly twice a day.
  • Use mouthwash twice a day following brushing.
  • Floss daily between the teeth to remove dental plaque.
  • Avoid tobacco products. 
  • Limit alcoholic drinks.
  • Schedule regular dental check-ups and cleanings.

If you notice any sudden changes in your mouth or you frequently have bad breath, speak to your dentist as soon as possible. However, many people in the UK aren’t registered with a local dentist, and if you’re one of them, finding a dentist in your local area, such as a dentist in Fulham, is a straightforward process. Making changes to how you care for your mouth at home is the first step to good dental care, but it’s essential you have regular check-ups and cleanings to ensure your mouth is always at its healthiest. If you’re looking for a Fulham dentist, Fulham Road Dental have excellent services to offer you in order to improve your oral hygiene and quality of life; for more information, check out their website to read more about their services.

Dental Health And Your Mental Health

As we mentioned previously, poor dental health can affect the health of your brain, but it can also lead to negative thoughts in relation to how well you care for yourself. Both of these factors can impact your mental health, which is why it is vital that you take the time to evaluate how your care for your gums, teeth and tongue and take steps to improve your oral hygiene in order to improve your mental health as well as your quality of life.

How Poor Dental Hygiene Impacts Social Life

Poor dental hygiene can lead to bad breath, gum disease, and tooth decay which may impact your conversations and social interactions. When you don’t care for your mouth properly, you may find yourself avoiding close interactions with other people, and you may also experience people avoiding them with you. The time you spend with your family and friends is often intimate and can be negatively affected when you don’t care for the health of your mouth.