Healthy Teeth Contributes to a Healthy Body

Periodontal disease (oral bacteria) can contribute to many other health issues. Your mouth is one of the primary entry points for bacteria and viruses and the portal to your body. There are various ways germs enter your mouth – germs can be airborne, using a community telephone, touching your mouth with your fingers, through ingestion – these are just a few ways a person can contract bacteria and germs in their mouth.

The First Step – Prevention

Your mouth becomes an incubator for bacteria, which can eventually be transmitted into other areas of the body. The dentistry profession advises that you routinely do some of the following preventative steps to prevent the spread of oral bacteria:

Washing hands: It almost sounds too simple, but washing your hands with an antibacterial soap periodically throughout the day can prevent extraneous germs from getting in your mouth.

Brushing Teeth: Your dentist will advise you to brush after every meal. This will eliminate some of the bacteria from the exterior of your teeth, but the next step is required to really empty pockets where food gets caught.

Flossing: It has become more and more apparent that brushing your teeth after a meal is not enough, flossing completes the process. Dental floss comes in all shapes and flavors. You’ll want floss that gets into the gaps between your teeth, and the type of floss will depend on how tight or lose these areas are.

Dental Check-ups Are Essential

As much as we try to maintain a healthy mouth, a trip to your dentist every six months is a good idea. A professional cleaning will be the final touch to killing those pesky bacteria. You have certainly heard the word “tarter,” this is a build-up that occurs along the gum line which traps bacteria. It’s this bacterium that eats away at the tooth enamel and causes tooth decay.

There are times that bacteria leaks into the system and gets in the bloodstream. Certain forms of bacteria can cause Cardiovascular disease, stroke, premature infants (pregnant mothers), and other infectious diseases. Anyone with immune deficiencies can also suffer inflammatory ailments associated with bacterial infections.

Dentistry has come a long way, both in technology and research. Keeping your mouth and teeth in good shape not only helps with your overall health, but it can save you a lot of money in future healthcare bills. Taking a little time each day, and practicing some of the dental hygiene tips outlined above, can save you a lot of time and headaches in the long run.