Poor oral health care can result in overall poor
health. Like other part of the body, oral care is equally important, poor oral
hygiene can lead to several chronic diseases and other health issues. To
prevent these health issues, practicing good oral hygiene is very important.
People at an early age should get into good practices. Regular dental visits,
brushing regularly, flossing and watching what you eat are all important steps
in preventing dental diseases and keeping you in good health. Maintaining
excellent oral health and keeping your natural teeth throughout your life is
most important.
The important things for the overall good oral hygiene are
oil pulling, brushing teeth twice daily, flossing for interdental cleaning,
avoid tobacco eating and smoking, eating less sugar added food, snacking less
between meals and regular dental check-up. Keeping oral microbes under control
is also important, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral
infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Saliva washes away food and
neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth, helping to protect you
from microbes that multiply and lead to disease. Certain kind of medication
reduces saliva flow. Some of the diseases that are linked to poor oral health
are diabetes, osteoporosis, AIDS, Alzheimer’s diseases, Rheumatoid arthritis.
Good oral hygiene helps to prevent dental and gum problems - mainly plaque
(soft whitish deposit on the teeth combine with food and saliva), tartar
(harden calcified plaque, sticks firmly to the teeth), bad breath, tooth erosion.
Some of the problems associated with gums are Gingivitis (inflammation of the
gums), Periodontitis (when gingivitis becomes worse) which is the main causes
of gum disease and tooth decay (dental caries). Dental erosion slowly increases
sensitivity to various stimuli including cold temperatures, sweet stimuli and
touching the affected areas. Good oral hygiene may also help to prevent or
delay dental erosion. Poor oral hygiene is not just associated with problems in
your mouth. There are a number of other conditions which have been linked to
gum disease. It is thought that germs entering the bloodstream from the mouth
can travel elsewhere in the body, making infections more likely. Also, the
inflammation response that happens when you have gingivitis or periodontitis
can also trigger inflammation elsewhere. Oral manifestation may be the first
sign of gastrointestinal diseases. This is definitely the case in inflammatory
bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Persistent bad
breath or a bad taste in the mouth may be a warning sign of gum disease. Gum
disease is caused by the buildup of plaque on teeth. Bacteria cause the
formation of toxins to form, which irritate the gums. If gum disease continues untreated,
it can damage the gums and jawbone. Another common problem that is associated
with teeth is the discoloration of teeth. Changes in the color of your teeth
may be subtle and happen gradually. Certain kinds of food with a high content
of tannin are the potential cause of yellow teeth. Some of the most common
cause of tooth discoloration includes drinking beverages such as coffee, soda,
and wine. Practicing good dental care from infancy to adulthood can help a
person keep their teeth and gums healthy. It may also benefit your overall
health.
