Why Dental Care is Healthcare
General health and hygiene is an essential aspect of healthy living. However, it is necessary to understand different aspects of the human body that communicate variations in standards of healthy living. For example, how often do we relate our oral health to general health? What diseases are linked to poor dental care? Such questions are essential in shaping human behavior, especially when interacting with other people and the immediate environment since personal hygiene is not only crucial for our health but the perceptions we create about ourselves. Although neglected and undermined by many people, dental health plays a great course in providing a positive social, physical, and mental wellbeing. Generally, it is an essential tool in improving the quality of life.
What is Dental Care?
There is really no standard definition of dental care. However, it is widely accepted as maintaining oral health; it is the practice of maintaining healthy teeth, gums, mouth, and having regular checkups with a Hawthorne Dentist. It is a personal initiative to avoid complications such as dental cavities, bad mouth odor, and gum diseases, among other health complications that are associated with oral health practices.
The Connection Between Oral Health and General Health
Most people have been making distinctions between Oral health and general health without having adequate knowledge of the relationship. Oral health practices have a direct impact on our general health. The mouth has bacteria that are harmless but play an essential role in neutralizing or reducing the body’s immunity. For that reason, dentists and medical professionals have been encouraging daily brushing of teeth, which controls bacteria effect in the mouth. Without proper oral health concerns, most people suffer painful consequences such as tooth decay and cavities.
As a result of health defects in the mouth, doctors have been providing medications that are of unfavorable effect on the body’s general health. For example, saliva acts as one of the essential components of the digestive system. One of its primary functions is to help the mouth break down food particles which can be swallowed at ease. Importantly, saliva plays an essential role in neutralizing acids in the mouth that are produced by bacteria. The medications provided by doctors such as painkillers, antihistamines, antidepressants, among others, reduce saliva flow in the mouth. That means that bacteria neutralization cannot take place effectively, leading to different types of oral infections. Oral bacteria also lead to various forms of gum diseases.
Certain chronic illnesses play an essential role in reducing oral health. Some of them include HIV/AIDS and Diabetes. Such diseases reduce general body immunity and among the affected parts of the body are that are part of the oral regions. That is an indication that Oral health can either reduce or improve overall body health and hygiene.
Conditions that are Directly or Indirectly linked to Oral Health
Endocarditis is among the health complications that might be directly linked to oral health. It is an illness that affects the inner lining of the heart known as Endocardium. The sickness emanates from germs and bacteria that are transmitted through blood vessels from other parts of the body such as the mouth. That means, if a person does not maintain excellent oral health standards, they might have a long term effect on other parts of the body such as the heart. Cardiovascular illnesses can also emanate from inflammations caused by bacteria. Commonly, the swellings block the blood vessels such as arteries, leading to heart complications.
Although oral health has a direct impact on general health, it is also essential to consider that some of the illnesses can lead to deterioration in oral health. One of the diseases includes diabetes. According to research, most people who have diabetes often suffer from gum lesions. One of the reasons is the weak immune system as a result of poor sugar regulation within the body system. Moreover, most people with gum lesions have a low tolerance for blood sugar control.
Another common illness is HIV/AIDS. It leads to muscle lesions around the oral region. However, it is common among the HIV positive population. Osteoporosis is another health complication with a direct impact on a person’s oral health. It is a condition linked to loss of bone, especially periodontal and tooth loss.
Although they have not been common, many other health defects are directly linked to oral health. One of them includes an eating disorder. According to the findings obtained by Hawthorne Dentist, most people with poor oral health standards have been suffering from eating disorders, dry mouth as a result of immune system disorders, and to some of the patients, there have been exceptional cases of patients suffering from neck and head cancer.
What are the Best Oral Health Practices?
It is evident that unhealthy oral behavior might lead to devastating general health conditions. For that reason, it is vital to adopt healthy oral practices. One of the considerations includes routine medical checkups, with competent dentists. According to research conducted by the American Dental Association, most American citizens have been suffering from different dental complications as a result of inadequate medical consultations and also respective interventions.  Dentists conduct a lot of medical procedures to ensure your teeth are in perfect condition and even control the effect of bacteria on other parts of the body. Some of the practices include checking of any tooth decay and gum disease. Routine visits are essential in reducing the loss of teeth and poor productivity because of dental pain such as toothache.
Other than depending on doctors and dentists, a person can take care of his or her dental region by adopting important daily activities. One of them includes brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste. Dentists recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day. The type of diet people consume has a significant effect on their oral health. For example, sugary foods and snacks have a direct impact on introducing tooth cavities and decay, especially when failing to brush teeth as advised by dentists and medical practitioners. Another essential exercise is changing your toothbrush regularly. Dentists recommend changing toothbrushes after every three (3) months. Using a toothbrush for so long might transfer bacteria from the toothbrush to the mouth, especially when exposed to unhygienic living conditions.
In conclusion, dental health is vital in not only improving general health but also improving the standards of living. By avoiding habits that jeopardize the standards of oral cleanliness, it is essential to understand and implement the practices advised by a Hawthorne Dentist, as analyzed and explained in the above article. In summary, dental health is directly and indirectly linked to general health conditions.