Why A Healthy Mouth Really Matters

Failure to look after your teeth and gums can lead to a range of health problems

Dentists are usually associated with the care and welfare of your teeth. While this is a prominent part of the work that we do, it isn’t the only one, and over the years, there has been a growing awareness of the care of the whole oral cavity, including the gums and other soft tissues in the mouth. Many of the blogs that we write discuss ways of maintaining better oral care with improved cleaning and ensuring that you visit our Burton dental clinic at regular intervals to have your teeth checked and professionally cleaned.

In today’s blog, we are going to look at some of the things that can happen if you fail to take good care of your teeth and gums. Some of these will be well known to you and you may well have experienced some of them. We will be paying special attention though, to general health issues that can stem from poor care which you may be less aware of.

Let us take a look then, at the problems that you might expect if you neglect your oral health.

Dental issues

Tooth decay

Many of you will have experienced this, even if only in childhood. A high sugar diet and neglecting to clean your teeth well often leads to damaged tooth enamel which then allows bacteria to enter the softer inner parts of the tooth and causes cavities to be formed. Any cavity is undesirable but treating them promptly with a filling usually offers a reasonably strong restoration. If this is not treated in its early stages, it could also result in tooth loss, whether by decay or the result of the tooth needing to be extracted due to a poor prognosis.

Gum disease

Sometimes misunderstood by patients, gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis, not only cause unpleasant symptoms such as sore and inflamed gums and even bleeding ones, but can also lead to tooth loss if not treated in time. This occurs when the bone surrounding the tooth is degraded by the bacteria, causing them to become loose and sometimes fall out. Better brushing, the use of floss, and regular visits to the hygienist at SG Dental and Implant Centre Burton will help to prevent this from being a problem.

Sensitive teeth

Poor brushing, but also excessive brushing, can lead to the erosion of the tooth enamel that protects the inner part of the tooth. Other factors such as the consumption of acidic products like sports or energy drinks are also becoming too common. When this occurs, the risk of decay is increased but you are also likely to notice an often painful increase in sensitivity in your teeth. Prevention is better than cure of course but if you already have sensitive teeth, the fitting of porcelain dental veneers can offer a solution.

Bad breath

One of the more common causes of persistent bad breath, as opposed to that caused by eating garlic etc, is gum disease. While we will often notice symptoms such as sore or bleeding gums, bad breath is difficult to detect on our own. Unless you have a close friend or partner who is willing to tell you that you have smelly breath, you could find that people avoid standing too close to you when in conversation. Make sure to avoid this with good cleaning, including a scale and polish by our hygienist.

General health issues

Many people think that oral health issues don’t go beyond the mouth, but there is increasing evidence to suggest that they may have a significant impact on our overall general health.

Heart issues

While most people understand that poor oral care can lead to dental problems, some will be surprised to hear that it can also affect your heart. Studies have indicated that those with severe gum disease are at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and strokes. Although research is ongoing, there is an indication that the inflammation often associated with gum disease may also affect the heart and especially for those most vulnerable, the heart valves. Research has also shown that those with serious gum health issues are twice as likely to have a stroke as those that don’t. Good preventative oral health care could help you to prevent these serious health problems.

Respiratory problems

The risk of lung problems could be increased if you have poor oral health. Inhaled bacteria is thought to be a possible factor in some people with problems like pneumonia, COPD, emphysema and other respiratory conditions. Looking after your teeth and gums can help to prevent this and, literally, help you to breathe more easily.

Digestive and nutritional issues

If you have a full set of healthy teeth, you should have no issue with dental related digestive problems. For those missing a number of teeth though, or have teeth that are misaligned, you might not be chewing your food as efficiently as you should be and failing to break it down enough before digesting it. This can lead to a range of digestive problems. Difficulty in eating certain foods may also lead to your restricting your diet and failing to obtain the correct nutrition that your body needs.

Pregnancy complications

If you are pregnant, poor oral health can have potential implications and lead to issues such as low birth weight, premature birth and pre-eclampsia. Being pregnant also increases your risk of gum disease due to hormonal changes at this time. If you are planning to start a family or are already pregnant, make sure to contact our Burton dental clinic to ensure that you have a healthy mouth for the duration of your pregnancy.

As you can see, your teeth and gums are very important, and failing to take care of them may result in more than a simple filling. To make sure that you have healthy teeth and gums and help to prevent other potential medical issues, please ensure that your appointments with us are up to date. If you are unsure or would like to make an appointment with us, you can call SG Dental and Implant centre today on 01283 845345.