Benefits of Caring For Your Teeth

Ignoring your oral health may feel like no big deal. While missing a day or two of brushing or flossing probably won’t be a big deal, a bad habit of neglecting to brush or flossing long-term can harm your teeth and gum tissue.

Not only can bacteria get out of control and cause you bad breath, but it can also lead to cavities and problems with gum disease. Gum disease is a real problem, especially when left untreated. Bad breath, inflamed gum tissue, loose teeth, and sometimes pain are the symptoms experienced by those with gum disease.

The good news is that most oral diseases can be prevented with good home care and routine visits to your dentist. Little bits of time each day spent caring for your teeth can help you avoid unwanted dental problems from becoming a reality in your future. Here are a few ways that brushing and flossing can help you:

• Less plaque
• Less tartar buildup
• Healthier gum tissue
• Fresher breath
• Less inflammation
• Brighter smile

While the ways that brushing and flossing help your teeth may seem simple, the benefits don’t just stop at your teeth. Brushing and flossing also offer significant benefits to your health and wellness!

Lower Risk Of Heart Disease

Did you know that the bacteria found to cause gum disease has also been linked to similar bacteria of heart disease? Like how bacteria builds in your mouth, they can also build up and harden in your arteries. Keeping the bacteria at healthy levels keeps your mouth healthy, but it can also help keep your heart healthy!

Reduces the Chance Of Joint Inflammation

Bacteria cause inflammation in your gum tissue and also leads to inflammation in your joints, heart, and other organs. Keeping your oral bacteria in check can help reduce your chances of developing inflammation elsewhere in your body.

Healthier Pregnancies

Gum tissue inflammation and gum disease can affect your pregnancy, especially when it comes to low birth weight. Gum disease has even been linked to preterm delivery.

Improved Fertility

Gum disease has been shown to affect estrogen and progesterone levels negatively. This change in hormone levels can affect one’s ability to become pregnant or stay pregnant, so having good home care can help to minimize this from being a problem.

Reduce Your Risk Of Diabetes Complications

Gum disease makes it more difficult for people with diabetes to control and manage their blood sugar levels. This often leads to people with diabetes experiencing more issues with their gum tissue and more concerns with their diabetes.

Better Respiratory Health

Breathing is one way for bacteria to enter your lungs. Oral bacteria outside the healthy range puts you at risk of respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis. Stopping these bacteria in the oral cavity can keep them from becoming a bigger problem in your lungs!

Less Sickness

When your immune system is focused heavily on handling your oral cavity concerns, such as gum disease, it can’t put all its efforts into the many other functions that keep you healthy. This often means that you will be more susceptible to common cold and flu illnesses. Studies show that brushing and flossing keep your oral health in tip-top shape so that your immune system can focus all its attention on fighting off other invaders like the common cold and flu.

Brushing and flossing do wonders for your teeth and gum tissue, but the benefits don’t stop there. Next time you are tempted to skip brushing and flossing, remember how your body will benefit from taking a few minutes to brush and floss your teeth!