 As most people know, it’s important to brush and floss your teeth daily. In fact, it’s something your parents have probably told you every day since you were a little kid. They did that because they wanted you to have a healthy mouth with a beautiful smile. Recently, it’s become known just how important it is to have a healthy mouth, not just for strong teeth and gums, but for your overall health as well.
As science and medicine continue to advance, we learn more about how the body works and just how interconnected every part is to one another. This holds true for your mouth. Researchers have shown a direct connection between the health of your mouth and your overall health, enhancing the importance of proper dental hygiene practices and regular dental checkups.
The mouth, unfortunately, is a great place for bacteria to form. Because of its warm temperature and wet environment, bacteria may thrive and stick to the hard structures of the tooth where biofilms can form. When there are too much bacteria, inflammation occurs. Inflammation in the mouth is essentially the same as it is elsewhere in the body. Inflammation can lead to infection, which when left untreated can enter your bloodstream and increase your risk to a host of serious health issues, including:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Premature birth and low birth-weight
Inflammation and infection in the mouth can also be an early sign of disease in the body. According to Sheila Brear, BDS, and professor at the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry, some oral health issues may be the first indications of a disease elsewhere in the body. Some who repeatedly have ulcers in the mouth have been linked to ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Sometimes, severe gum disease has been a sign of diabetes, those who have corrosion of the teeth may have suffer from reflux, and some who experience swollen gums which often bleed easily have been linked to leukemia.
While this may sound scary it’s important to know that if you experience any of these oral issues it doesn’t always mean you have other, more serious health problems. Rather, understanding just how connected your oral and overall health is can help you stay on top of your health so that you can detect and prevent these issues.
You can keep your oral health in check by following proper dental hygiene on a daily basis and having regular dental visits. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), the number of Americans who fail to have dental checkups each year is near 100 million. At our Houston office, Dr. Heather Flescher believes in providing you with thorough examinations to assess the health of your mouth. This process includes:
- Risk assessment
- Oral cancer exam
- Periodontal exam
- Restorative exam
- Neuromuscular exam
Dr. Fleschler and her team of dental hygienists stay current on the most advanced methods of oral health by continually taking courses at the prestigious Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies. When you come to Dr. Fleschler for your oral health needs you can trust that you’re receiving the highest quality care and support to help keep your mouth, and your body, healthy.
If you’d like to learn more about proper dental hygiene techniques or wish to schedule an appointment to assess your oral health or any other dental care needs, please contact us by filling out the form on this page or by calling us at 713-660-6500 to schedule your appointment today. We proudly provide services to those who live in and near Houston, Sugar Land, and Pasadena, Texas.
