Importance of maintaining a healthy mouth.

Having good oral health is essential, many diseases or conditions start within the mouth and can affect the rest of the body. Having healthy teeth is not the only thing you must strive for, gum health along with the jaw and supporting bone is key. Having poor oral health can lead to plenty of unwanted problems such as gum redness, gum infection, gum inflammation, gingivitis (early stage gum disease) or even moderate to severe gum disease. Let’s look at this in more detail…
Our oral health as we mentioned above is very important, here’s 5 reasons you should maintain aim for great oral health, create and stick to a good oral care routine.

1. Gum disease
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease is a disease of the gums that causes inflammation, bleeding and recession. Whilst it can sometimes be attributed to genetics it’s usually caused by poor oral hygiene. Good dental health is usually the best way to avoid having gum disease. When plaque builds around the surface of the gumline and on the tooth it can cause the gum to pull away from the tooth making it susceptible to infection and further recession. Whilst gum disease is a serious condition that needs urgent intervention, the good news is that it is curable. Gum disease treatment typically includes a new oral health routine, regular dental hygienist appointments and potentially oral medication. However, the impact of gum disease, such as gum recession is permanent, and therefore the quicker you are able to treat gum disease the better! Signs of gum disease include: bleeding when you brush, inflamed
gums, gums that appear to be pulling away from your tooth, plaque buildup around the gumline,
bad breath and loose teeth.

2. Tooth and bone loss
A really serious consequence of poor dental health is tooth and bone loss, yes you read that correctly. There are many reasons why someone may lose a tooth, but one of the leading causes is due to gum disease and the deterioration of the support in the gums and bone. But unfortunately the bad news doesn’t stop there. Once we lose a tooth, the bone often deteriorates at the location of the lost tooth, and can affect the security of the surrounding teeth. This is another real reason you must act fast when you see gum disease, even at the earliest stage which is called gingivitis. This is once again a reminder that teeth and gum health are equally as important.

3. Staining
Poor oral health often means that people are left with discoloured teeth. This may be because of plaque build up or because of smoking or other staining habits that have not been cleaned properly. Our teeth are porous and therefore hold colour, but staining can lower the aesthetic of your smile and lower your confidence. Simply brushing twice a day and flossing can reduce the risk of this happening. Potential higher risk of illness There are many debates and studies happening that are beginning to show possible links between poor oral hygiene and illnesses such as heart disease. A few ideas are still being discussed about this connection, some theories include the bacteria caused by gum disease being present in the bloodstream, or an inflammatory immune response to gum disease which could cause issues for the cardiovascular system. While it’s not a certain link, the statistics show that those with gum disease are 2 -3 times more likely to suffer cardiovascular ill health. Regardless, we think it’s a good reason to focus on bettering your oral health!

4. Bad breath
Bad breath, also called halitosis, can cause people to be self conscious, but it is often a symptom of poor hygiene, this isn’t always the case though. Plaque and debris build up is what causes bad breath, it’s not only unpleasant but the cause is unhealthy also. Brushing twice a day, flossing, using mouthwash and keeping a hydrated mouth usually prevents most cases. All of these points above can be mitigated with regular dental visits to both a hygienist
and dentist as well as daily brushing and flossing! Good oral hygiene habits are essentially the best way to promote preventative dentistry. Do you have any of the issues listed above? Why not speak to one of the Dentists here at Dental Concepts who would be more than happy to assist you in making a healthier change!