Oral Health: a good indicator of your overall health

Oral health is very important to the point that it can be a mirror to your overall health. The bacteria in your mouth can usually be kept under control by regular brushing and flossing. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Studies suggest that periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease, might play a role in some diseases. Therefore, oral health might affect, be affected by, or contribute to various diseases and conditions, such as: (1) Heart disease: Many studies suggest that oral health, and gum disease in particular, are related to serious conditions like heart disease. (2) Diabetes: If you have diabetes, you know the disease can harm your eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart and other important systems in the body, but it can have a higher than normal risk of periodontal diseases. (3) Pregnancy: It causes hormonal changes that increase your risk for developing oral health problems like gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and periodontitis (gum disease). Between 50%-70% of women will develop gingivitis sometime during their pregnancy, a condition called pregnancy gingivitis. (4) Osteoporosis, which causes bones to become weak and brittle, might be linked with periodontal bone loss and tooth loss. Protecting your oral health is not very complicated and will definitely spare you a lot of pain and health problems. Here are some simple tips to avoid dental problems: (1) Brush your teeth at least twice a day; (2) Floss daily; (3) Use a mouth rinse daily; (4) Replace your toothbrush every three to four months;(5) Visit your dentist regularly. ...

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