Oral Health: A Window into your Overall Well-being

Smile. That is the first thing that people notice when they meet someone— and no one forgets a nice, welcoming smile.  But do we do enough to maintain our smile? ‘White teeth’ is not always synonymous with ‘healthy oral cavity’. Besides our teeth, our gums, tongue, other soft tissues, bone as well as healthy oral flora, all contribute towards our oral health.

The Neglect of Oral Health

More than often, people neglect their dental health and reserve their visits to the dentist for emergencies. Many are afraid of the dentist and his chair—but what people fail to understand is that in dentistry neglect is more harmful than the disease itself. Halitosis (bad breath), deposition of plaque and calculus, caries etc are just some of the immediate effects of poor oral hygiene. Several oral issues can go unidentified and by the time symptoms start presenting themselves the damage might be irreversible. Hence, following the basic oral hygiene instructions alongside a regular visit to the dentist can be beneficial in keeping your oral health in check.

Oral Health and Systemic Health

There is a lesser known connection between oral and overall body health—poorly maintained oral health is not only a threat to your social status but is also a hazard to the rest of your body. Significant associations between oral health status and systemic diseases have been reported—these include Cardiovascular diseases, Diabetes and other Metabolic diseases, Obesity, Sleep Apnoea and various Cancers. In fact, initial manifestations of several systemic ailments—for example Sjogren Syndrome— are found in the oral cavity.

Direct relations of oral health with systemic health have also been established—periodontitis, commonly known as pyorrhoea, has a two-way relation with diabetes—both having a negative effect on each other.

A Healthier Mouth, A Healthier You

People do the most to maintain their oral hygiene—daily brushing, using the best toothpaste, regular use of mouthwash etc. However, it is important to understand that maintaining your oral health is more about doing the right thing than doing too many things. Here are some practices that you can incorporate in your routine which will help you maintain your pearly whites your whole life.

• Brush for 2 minutes, 2 times a day: Brushing removes plaque and debris deposited between the teeth and gums.
• Replace mouthwash with warm saline: Mouthwash kills bacteria and freshens your breath but in the long run it kills the healthy oral bacteria as well hence, causing more harm than benefit. Rinsing your mouth with warm saline is a better and healthier option.
• Eat a healthy diet: A balanced diet that includes fibrous food—like fruits, vegetables, whole grains etc—helps in maintaining good oral health.
• Avoid sticky food: Sticky food like hard candies and chocolates easily get deposited in the tooth fissures and failure in removing them can lead to caries development. Moreover, frequent consumption of soft drinks can cause erosion of tooth enamel, making your teeth sensitive.
• Quit smoking: Besides its ill-effects on the systemic health, smoking can stain teeth, cause bad breath, and increase the risk of gum disease and oral cancer.
• Visit your dentist regularly: Biannual dental check-ups can help detect problems early and prevent them from spreading.

So, don’t wait until you have a toothache, make an appointment with us today!