A Healthy Mouth Means a Healthier Life
Keeping up with dental visits and regular check-ups with a dental specialist checkup arrangements is actually (maybe surprisingly to some) imperative for whole-body health. Dr. Robert Eng Chin, DDS, MAGD and his team know that a healthy mouth goes far beyond a spotless, brilliant-white grin. Recent studies have found that oral wellbeing has trickle effects that can affect the strength of the whole human body and that the mouth can give reliable warning signs to other bodily issues.
These studies have demonstrated that the healthiness of gums can determine other problems or more serious diseases such as periodontal disease or gingivitis, which has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Other oral diseases can be connected to high blood pressure, anemia, heart attacks and stroke. Aside from that, the more obvious issues with bad oral health include cavities, terrible breath and an increased likelihood of losing teeth and being diagnosed with gum disease. Regular visits to the dentists can greatly help in catching any problems early on before they become a bigger, more critical issues.
Aside from catching health issues early during your regular teeth cleanings and check-ups, a dental practitioner will be able to suggest healthy habits to practice in between visits – like brushing twice a day, flossing, and other actions tailored specifically to your oral healthcare needs. Regular brushing and flossing keep the bacteria inside your mouth in check, which prevents it from reaching levels higher than normal, causing tooth decay and gum disease. In addition to giving you an at-home oral care routine, your dentist can alert you to signs of early gum disease (like swelling, bleeding, tender or receding gums) so that you can take a more pro-active approach in your oral health, and work with your doctor in catching gum disease quickly.
Dentists like Dr. Chin can also catch other dental issues, like teeth grinding. And while this condition is often caused by having an abnormal bite or crooked teeth, it can also be brought on by stress, anxiety and even sleep apnea.
A proactive oral regimen can mean the difference between healthy gums and the development of gingivitis. And if you stick with it, not only will you be preventing tooth-, gum-, and other mouth related conditions, but in some cases, you can even reverse the effects if they’ve already begun to develop. It’s important to note though, that while a dentist can provide treatments to fix many conditions, it’s the patient’s responsibility to follow the dentist’s recommendations and monitor conditions on their own.
If you take care of you physical health but stop short of you oral health, you’re not doing your body any favors. Not only does proper oral hygiene lead to better overall health, but regular visits to the dentist’s office can help lead to early diagnosis of many non-oral-related diseases, keeping you healthier longer. Contact Dr. Chin to schedule a dental appointment in San Diego by calling (858) 292-7655 or visiting SmileHQ.com today, and make complete health your priority.