A smile is the source of life, radiance and confidence, and it is important to protect your smile. But how important is maintaining healthy teeth? Good oral hygiene can help prevent oral problems, such as bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease, and help you keep your teeth healthy as you get older.

Nowadays, doctors recommend a complete oral check-up on a regular basis, saying that it is not a luxury, but a necessity that all of us need to abide by. Well, let’s have a sneak peek into how important it is to have healthy teeth and to maintain oral health.

Manifestations of systemic diseases (diseases that affect several organs and tissues, or the body as a whole) are first seen in the oral cavity. Oral diseases and systemic diseases, such as diabetes, blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, etc., are interlinked with your oral health.

Tooth decay occurs when the enamel and dentine (hard dense bony tissue forming the bulk of a tooth, beneath the enamel) of a tooth becomes softened by acid attack after you eat or drink anything containing sugars. Over time, the acid makes a cavity (hole) in the tooth. Tooth decay is also known as dental caries.

The tooth structure is embedded in the bone supported by gums around. Hence, improper or poor maintenance of teeth and gums can cause bone loss, resulting in the loosening of teeth from the tooth socket. Poor or improper oral hygiene causes bacterial infection composed of calcium and phosphate salts in and around your gums and on teeth. It is formed over a course of time when food debris on the tooth has not been cleaned properly. This leads to Gingivitis, a non-destructive disease that causes inflammation of the gums.

Bad breath, bleeding gums, salty taste are the common symptoms of gum disease. When left untreated, this will lead to Periodontitis, a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports your teeth.

Gum Disease and Other Common Health Complications

Gum (periodontal) disease and health complications such as stroke and heart disease are interlinked. Also, women with gum disease show higher incidences of pre-term, low birth-weight babies.

Over 90% of all systemic diseases have oral manifestations, including swollen gums, mouth ulcers, dry mouth and excessive gum problems. Such diseases comprise:

• Diabetes
• Leukemia
• Oral Cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Heart Disease
• Kidney Disease

Poor oral hygiene can also lead to other health problems, such as:

• Oral & Facial Pain: This pain is due to infection of the gums that support the teeth and can lead to tooth loss.

• Problems with the Heart and Other Major Organs: Mouth infections affect major organs; for instance, the heart and heart valves can become inflamed by bacterial endocarditis, a condition that affects people with heart disease or with damaged heart tissue.

• Digestion Problems: Digestion begins with physical and chemical processes in the mouth, leading to intestinal failure, irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive disorders.

Tips to Practice Good Oral Hygiene:

• Brush twice a day for at least two minutes, using fluoridated toothpaste
• Floss daily to remove plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach
• Eat a healthy diet to provide the nutrients necessary (vitamins A and C, in particular) to prevent gum disease
• Avoid cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, which are known to contribute to gum disease and oral cancer
• Visit the dentist regularly for cleanings and check-ups. This is one of the most effective ways to detect the early signs of gum disease.

How Important is Regular Dental Check-ups?

Regular dental visits can not only help you keep your smile attractive but also give your dentist indications about your overall health. Visiting your dentist regularly can help you know whether you may be at risk of any chronic disease as the health of your mouth mirrors the condition of your body as a whole. For instance, when your mouth is healthy, chances are your overall health is good, too. On the other hand, if you have poor oral health, you may have other health problems.

A dental exam can also detect poor nutrition and hygiene, growth and development problems, and improper jaw alignment. Generally, a routine dental check-up takes an hour or even less. A dental check-up every six months, along with scaling and polishing procedure, is also recommended by doctors as it can help detect any diseases associated with teeth, gums or tongue.

Do not hesitate to provide your dentist with a complete medical history and inform him or her of any recent health developments, even if they seem unrelated to your oral health.