Connection Between Oral Health & Overall Health

Post by: Gerarda on 26 Oct 2022

Oral health and overall health are closely connected. As the mouth is teaming with bacteria, mostly harmless, poor oral hygiene and low body defences can cause excessive amounts of oral bacteria and make any dental problems such as tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath more severe. These conditions can cause pain, infections, and even tooth loss.

Additionally, oral health problems can also be indicative of other health issues such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS, osteoporosis, digestive problems, and certain types of cancer.

Research has also shown that oral health problems can contribute to systemic health issues, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, and pneumonia. This is thought to be due to the bacteria and inflammation present in the mouth that can enter the bloodstream and affect other parts of the body.

Maintaining good oral hygiene through regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups / dental examinations is important not only for maintaining oral health, but also overall health.

If You Only Brush Once a Day

Post by: Gerarda on 05 Jul 2022

Maintaining good oral hygiene takes among other things, regularly brushing your teeth. Tell me something I don´t know, you may say.

Dental associations around the world recommend brushing your teeth twice a day, for two minutes each time. That means brush after breakfast for two minutes and again at night for another two minutes. That is a whopping four minutes out of your day and yet not everyone follows this recommendation. More people than you might think actually go through the day only brushing once. While that is better than not brushing at all which is essentially 2% of the population, it actually increases your chances of incurring costly dental treatment later on.

Brushing your teeth twice a day as is suggested by dental professionals has a few advantages, it saves the embarrassment of having bad breath and stained teeth.

By brushing only once a day:

1. Cavities are almost a certainty and that increases your risk by 33%. When you brush your teeth, it helps to remove food particles and the sticky substance containing bacteria that forms on your teeth called plaque. This bacteria-containing plaque produces acid which attack tooth enamel and if not removed causes cavities.

2. Increases your chance of getting gum disease – only brushing once every 24 hours creates a feast for the existing bacteria in your mouth. The plaque that isn’t removed hardens and becomes tartar which makes it harder to keep the teeth clean. Tartar build-up on your gums leads to inflammation and bleeding gums that causes gum disease. This is also known as periodontal disease.

3. Can lead to more dental treatment. Needing a one-off filling is one thing and can happen to the best of us, but brushing only once a day almost guarantees more fillings and bigger fillings. Sometimes the tooth is decayed to the point of needing root canal treatment or a crown. Those costs can be avoided by adding another two minutes a day to your brushing routine.

One of the best ways to care for your teeth and gums is simple. Regular brushing. And that means twice a day. After meals.

Adding flossing to your routine is also beneficial, but that is for another day.

 

The Effects of Cigarettes on Your Teeth

Post by: Gerarda on 01 Mar 2022

Smoking cigarettes can have a number of negative effects on teeth and gums. The nicotine and tar in cigarettes can cause discoloration of the teeth, and smoking can also lead to bad breath and an increased risk of gum disease.

Additionally, smoking can slow down the healing process after dental procedures, and can also increase the risk of oral cancer.

It is important to note that these effects can happen with other forms of tobacco use as well, such as the use of e-cigarettes or vaping devices or snuff.

Vaping, in particular, can also lead to dry mouth which can be a contributing factor to tooth decay, gum disease and oral infections. Using smokeless tobacco (snuff) can also cause discoloration, bad breath, and an increased risk of oral cancer.

It is significant to note that all forms of tobacco use can have detrimental effects on oral health.

Make a dental appointment today, to have a dental check-up / dental examination, especially if you are a smoker. This is not something to put off.