Not many people realize how important good oral health is to your overall well-being. The food you eat, your oral hygiene routine, and many other factors can affect your health. The bacteria that lives in your mouth, whether it is good or bad bacteria, travels throughout your entire body. If the bad bacteria gets out of hand, infections arise and can spread, causing illness. Your oral health is more important than you may think! 

The importance of brushing

Regular brushing takes care of all the bad bacteria that grows in your mouth based on the food you eat. If you have a sweet tooth, don’t deprive yourself, indulge! However, be sure to brush your teeth before bed, candy tends to stick around long after you finish chewing. Brushing takes care of all the food remnants that would otherwise build up and cause plaque, that leads to gum disease. Brushing twice a day will do the trick! Don’t think of it as a chore, think of it as a necessary spa treatment for your mouth. Your dentist will thank you. 

A villain named “tartar” 

Tartar is a crusty substance that traps stains on the teeth and causes discoloration. Your body sees this substance as an intruder, and works hard to fight against it. With your immune system fighting this infection, your mouth is experiencing a whole bunch of action. A small diagnosis of gum disease can lead to the destruction of bone and tissue, which ultimately progresses to periodontal disease. Staying on top of these common oral hygiene practices will help to prevent irreversible damage to your teeth and gums. 

Too much of a fight leads to immunity exhaustion

 If your body is constantly fighting oral infections or tartar buildup, the rest of your body will be deprived of the attention it deserves. Your body can only handle so much, so when too many infections arise, the immune system is compromised, resulting in illness. By maintaining a proper oral health routine, you are allowing your body to fight off other infections that are harder to prevent yourself. Brush your teeth, schedule regular dentist check-ups, and eat tooth-healthy foods to keep your smile shining bright! 

Contact Dr. Sara and her team at Pinnacle Peak Family Dentistry to learn more about how you can improve your overall well-being with simple dental hygiene tips!