Dangers of Neglecting to Keep Up Your Oral Health

After a long and stressful day, the last thing you’re thinking about is your oral health. If you’re like many Americans, you’re also probably thinking about indulging in some delicious but arguably unhealthy comfort food, including starchy sweets and carbonated beverages.

To make it worse, you might curl up in bed with your tablet computer to watch a few shows to unwind, and next thing you know, you’re blinking in the bright sunshine of dawn and realizing that you had forgotten to brush and floss your teeth the night before. While occasionally slipping up isn’t too harmful in the long-term, repeatedly neglecting your oral health can be quite dangerous.

Why You Need to Take Care of Your Dental Health

Brushing and flossing your teeth isn’t just about having a beautiful smile; it can also be the first step you take in preserving your overall wellness. Taking good care of your oral health is all part of maintaining the health your entire body.

Failure to take care of your teeth and gums can lead to quite a few complications that can have devastating repercussions. These include:

• The inflammation associated with gum disease has been shown to make cancer more aggressive. Furthermore, oral bacteria have been found inside tumors, particularly breast and lung masses)
• Heart Attack: Systemic inflammation can also lead to inflammation of your heart, leading to heart disease.
• Dementia: Untreated gum disease can also lead to memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Upper Respiratory Infection: You can also breathe in oral bacteria, causing pneumonia, bronchitis, COPD, and emphysema.

Taking good care of your mouth is more than just preserving your teeth and preventing tooth decay. It can also help protect you from deadly, highly preventable diseases. In addition to taking time to brush twice a day (for two minutes each time with a soft-bristled toothbrush) and flossing nightly, you also need to schedule regular dental exams. If it’s been longer than six months since your last checkup, please give us a call here to schedule your appointment for a comprehensive dental wellness exam and a cleaning!