Why Good Oral Health Is Important for Your Overall Well-being

Why Good Oral Health Is Important for Your Overall Well-being

Aug 01, 2023

Oral health cuts beyond having a healthy smile because it is directly linked to overall health and well-being. Dental and oral health are critical facets of your overall health. Poor dental hygiene often leads to oral disorders like cavities, gum disease, and tooth decay. It also has links to severe conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Dental Partners of Brookline has one of the best dentists near Longwood. Maintaining oral hygiene is a lifelong commitment. Good dental hygiene involves brushing, avoiding sugary food, flossing, and crunchy foods. This article looks at the impact of your oral health on your overall well-being.

Importance of Oral Health for Overall Well-being

Oral health is critical to overall well-being since it affects different dimensions, such as physical, mental, and social health. Some reasons that indicate the importance of oral health for your entire health and well-being include;

Physical health

Oral health directly influences your ability to chew and properly digest food. Dental disorders affect your ability to consume a balanced diet and have it absorbed in the body, leading to deficiencies in essential nutrients.

Additionally, good oral health ensures you stay clear of dental infections like gum disease and tooth decay. These dental infections cause discomfort and pain and, in some cases, may lead to tooth loss, thus affecting your overall well-being since your ability to smile, eat, and speak has been affected.

Good oral health ensures you eat a healthy diet, providing food is adequately digested and thus absorbed quickly into the body. Proper oral health also decreases your chances of developing chronic diseases such as respiratory infections, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. In addition, research indicates that bacteria associated with periodontitis contribute to cardiovascular problems. Oral conditions have been linked to developing and worsening cardiovascular diseases, respiratory infections, and catastrophic pregnancy outcomes.

Also, gum disease is a potential cause of chronic inflammation in the body. Studies show that chronic inflammation has been associated with several systemic conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

Mental health

Mental health is often overlooked as a critical facet of your overall health. Good oral health contributes positively to your mental health. Healthy teeth boost your self-esteem and confidence, making you feel more attractive. Oral problems like missing, stained, or decayed teeth usually affect self-esteem, significantly contributing to poor mental health.

Oral Health and Its Impacts on Your Overall Health

Studies indicate a correlation between oral health and your overall health. Oral health impacts your overall health in several ways. They include;

Systemic inflammation –

Poor dental hygiene leads to dental infections like gum disease, which is linked to chronic body inflammation. Chronic inflammation has various systemic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and particular types of cancers.

Diabetes management –

Individuals with diabetes are more susceptible to periodontitis, affecting their ability to fight the infection. Gum disease also affects blood sugar levels, thereby worsening diabetes management. It’s thus critical for persons with diabetes to maintain proper oral hygiene to maintain their overall health and effectively manage their blood sugar levels.

Cognitive functions –

Research indicates that poor oral health contributes to a decline in cognitive functions. Also, chronic inflammation caused by gum disease increases cognitive impairment.

Pregnancy outcomes –

Poor dental hygiene, especially during pregnancy, is linked to adverse effects such as preterm birth, gestational diabetes, and low birth weight. Hormonal changes during pregnancy make the gums vulnerable to inflammation and infection. Pregnant persons should thus prioritize oral health and seek regular dental care to minimize risk complications.

Conclusion

It is essential to prioritize oral health, which gives you a beautiful smile and improves your overall well-being. Good dental health promotes a healthier mind. It creates systemic connections influencing diabetes management, respiratory health, pregnancy outcomes, cardiovascular health, and digestion. Once you maintain good oral health, you put dental issues at bay and reduce systemic conditions, thus improving your overall quality of life. If you have symptoms of dental infections, you should visit a reputable dentist in Jamaica Plain.

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