Did you know that you have trillions of different bacteria within your body, most of which are in your gut? There is a very complicated ecosystem inside and it is sometimes difficult to keep the different types of bacteria in balance. However, if you don't you can face health issues in later life and many of the problems begin in your mouth, the "port of entry" for your weird and wonderful world. As you can exercise a lot of control over the health of your mouth, you do need to look after your teeth. What can go wrong, if you don't?
Keeping Everything in Balance
The body is a remarkable machine that has a number of different defence mechanisms to help keep you safe and healthy. You can assist the job by exercising good oral hygiene every day, including a twice-daily brush and floss routine. If you do so, you may be able to stave off some of the worst issues associated with tooth decay or gum disease, but you may be unaware of an even bigger risk.
Periodontitis
If inflammation does take hold due to poor practice, periodontitis is a potential result. Unfortunately, once this takes hold it can lead to the development of disease in other parts of the body as well.
Major Illnesses
The bacteria that develops alongside periodontitis will travel to the bloodstream and can lead to infections in other parts of the body. Most worryingly, it can attach to the lining inside your heart and cause an infection there, called endocarditis. More issues can arise if the infection is still untreated from additional inflammation that's linked to poor oral hygiene. Some doctors believe that this can cause clogging of the arteries, or even heart attack or stroke.
Risks to the Baby
Ladies who are pregnant need to be especially careful about their oral health and stave off the development of periodontitis. If not, the baby could be born prematurely or seriously underweight.
Sugar Levels
Diabetes is a growing problem in Australia and this can be a two-edged sword. If you do develop it, you may have an even bigger risk of developing gum disease, as your body is very vulnerable to infection. As this happens, your blood sugar levels may rise and cause even greater issues with that diabetes.
Later Problems
Consider later life when you're thinking about your daily dental regimen and worry how problems in the mouth could cause osteoporosis or bone loss. You don't want to develop any weak or brittle bones and extra oral care may help you defend against this.
Catching up
If you haven't paid a visit to the dentist in some time, it's probably a good idea for you to schedule a checkup, so you can see whether you have any additional risks to your gums and teeth.
Share25 October 2017
Hi! Welcome to my blog! My name is Kerry, and this blog is focused on dental fillings. It looks at the history of fillings, options for contemporary fillings, how to protect your fillings, when to replace them and much more. If you have ever had a cavity filled or if you are planning to get a tooth filled, you will find the information in this blog useful. I try to look at fillings from all angles, and I even plan to look at how to avoid fillings through proper dental hygiene and sealants. Thanks for reading, and I hope you find the info intellectually "filling."
