How Does Poor Oral Hygiene Affect Your Health?

As a human being with autonomy, there are a number of responsibilities which you must keep up with. One of your biggest responsibilities is your health.

Your oral health, in particular, is something which you must keep careful tabs on. Not only does the state of your oral health affect your mouth, but the rest of your body as well.

Wondering how poor oral hygiene can affect your health? Read on to find out!

Health Concerns Associated with Poor Oral Hygiene

Poor oral health can have a deep impact on your overall health. This dentist understands that everything from your heart health, to your lung health, to your sexual health is left vulnerable by bad oral hygiene.

Heart Disease

You may or may not be surprised to hear that your oral health can actually affect your heart health. The same bacteria which harm your teeth and gums can actually work their way into your arteries, causing plaque to build up, and clogging those arteries.

Clogged arteries cause poor blood flow, increasing the chance of heart attack, stroke, and hypertension. By eliminating harmful bacteria from your mouth, you prevent them from working their way into your bloodstream.

Respiratory Problems

Just as the bacteria in your mouth can work their way into your arteries, they can work your way into your lungs as well. Once these bacteria do so, they can cause a whole host of respiratory problems.

Specific respiratory problems which poor oral hygiene can lead to are bronchitis, pneumonia, and infections. These diseases can come in all intensities, from minor to life-threatening.

Diabetes

Do you have diabetes? If so, you need to take special care of your oral health.

The bacteria which come in tandem with gum disease are capable of increasing blood sugar levels. If you already have diabetes, this can be catastrophic. If you don’t already have diabetes, you run the risk of developing it.

Dementia

When bacteria cause damage to the gums, the gums release chemicals which flow into the brain. These chemicals are detrimental to the sensors of the brain, restricting blood flow, and stifling the brain’s functionality.

At best, poor gum health will result in some memory loss. At worst, it could actually result in Alzheimer’s Disease. Brushing your teeth two times a day and having regular dental visits can make all the difference.

Problems with Pregnancy

Another reason to keep up with dental health wellness is that poor oral hygiene can actually cause problems with pregnancy. Any uncommon bacteria which exist inside of a pregnant woman’s body could potentially be transferred to her unborn child.

Poor oral hygiene could result in a premature baby as well as in a baby that is severely underweight.

Fertility Issues

Oral disease can also make it difficult for a person to conceive children, causing a host of fertility issues. In most cases, these fertility issues present themselves in women.

Again, the bacteria associated with the oral disease can be transmitted to other parts of the body. This can affect the body’s overall standard of functioning, causing a number of mishaps.

Libido Troubles

Men who don’t prioritize dental health wellness put themselves at serious risk when it comes to performance in the bedroom. That’s right: poor oral health has been linked to erectile dysfunction.

When the bacteria in the mouth transmit to the rest of the body, they cause inflammation. Inflammation blocks the arteries, preventing blood from flowing freely to where it needs to go. Often times, this results in blood not making its way to the genitals.

Cancer

While a number of different things contribute to the development of cancer, bad oral health is a factor.

There are a variety of different cancers which have been linked to poor periodontal health. Some of the most common cancers associated with the condition are throat cancer, lung cancer, kidney cancer, and pancreatic cancer.

Arthritis

You might be surprised to hear that poor oral health can actually cause arthritis to develop. But, the fact of the matter is that there is a link between the two medical conditions.

What is this link? Inflammation.

When the bacteria associated with poor oral health make their way into the body, they cause inflammation in different parts of the body. This swelling and pain will often eventually present itself as arthritis.

Kidney Problems

Those with poor gum health are typically prone to weaker immune systems. Those with weaker immune systems, in turn, are more prone to developing infections.

This is why many sufferers of poor oral health will often be befallen with kidney problems. The kidneys are very vulnerable to infection, especially in those who have poor oral health.

However, not only can the kidneys suffer infection, they can suffer absolute shutdown as well.

How to Keep Good Oral Hygiene

Keeping good oral hygiene is as simple as being consistent. By prioritizing healthy teeth and gums on a regular basis, you can stave off all of the health problems reviewed above.

It’s important to brush your teeth and gums at least two times a day; once when you wake up, and once before you go to sleep. Flossing can also help to stave off oral disease and promote gum health.

In addition to this, it’s also wise to avoid consuming certain substances. Smoking cigarettes and eating sugary foods can wreak havoc on both your teeth and your gums, causing disease in the long run.

While doing these things, you’ll want also to schedule regular checkups with a dentist. In most cases, it’s wise to see your dentist twice a year. He or she will be able to give your mouth a thorough cleaning, ensuring healthy teeth and gums.

Find Other Important Information

Looking for other useful information in addition to information about poor oral hygiene? If so, you can find it right here at UpGifs.com.

We’ve got information on everything from education, to self-improvement, to DIY, to business, and much, much more. Whatever type of information it is that you’re looking for, we can provide it to you.

Check out our blog now!