Your Herndon dentist tells you that it’s important to take care of your oral health for your teeth’s sake — but did you know it’s good for your health both physically and mentally? There are countless cases that exemplify that if you have an infection in your mouth, it can increase your risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and many more health concerns. After years of speculation about the relationship between your mouth and the rest of your body, we better understand how dentistry affects our overall health and mental stability.
Oral and Overall Health Connections
Visiting your dentist is a huge part of taking care of your body. When you don’t visit your dentist for exams, professional cleanings, and help addressing dental problems, you can develop poor oral health. Poor oral health can cause these serious health problems:
Heart disease
Studies have found a relationship between advanced gum disease, periodontal disease, can lead to coronary heart disease or atherogenesis. This is a condition in which plaque forms in your arteries by entering your bloodstream. In fact, patients that don’t seek help with their gum disease are nearly twice at risk for heart disease.
Stroke
If you are missing some or all of your teeth, or have lost significant amounts of bone and tissue around your teeth, you may be at increased risk of stroke. Again, your bloodstream and the rest of your body is susceptible to bacteria and other debris.
Diabetes
Believe it or not, periodontal disease is the most common oral disease that affects diabetics. Nearly 22% of all diabetics develop periodontitis. The reason that periodontitis specifically affects diabetic patients is because of the difficulty that diabetics have in controlling their blood glucose levels. Bacteria thrives on sugar, and when blood glucose levels aren’t maintained properly, it can cause the bacteria in your mouth to multiply quickly and uncontrollably, causing the dental disease to take over.
Mental health problems.
It’s common knowledge that stress and anxiety can impact your health. But research has now shown a strong relationship between gum disease and many mental health problems, including stress, depression, distress, anxiety, and loneliness. All of these conditions can cause your body to produce more of the hormone cortisol which, in increased amounts, can aid in the progression of periodontal disease.
Moreover, if you don’t feel confident in your smile, many patients avoid social situations. You can become depressed because you’re ashamed of your teeth. The sad part is many patients don’t realize how much cosmetic dental procedures can truly “turn their frown upside down!” Meeting with your cosmetic dentist in Herndon can change your life for the better.
Contact Herndon Brite Smiles
By taking diligent care of your teeth, getting regular dental checkups, and treating any dental problems that occur in a timely manner, you can keep your whole body healthy. If you already have one of these health problems, it’s vital that you take exceptional care of your mouth to keep the condition from getting worse. Contact us today to schedule your next appointment.