You’ve been told to brush your teeth since you were a child, but you may not realize that having clean teeth can actually affect many facets of your health. According to the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, research shows that 96% of Americans consider their oral health as a critical part of their health in general. Let’s look at some ways that keeping your teeth clean can benefit your overall health.

Prevents Gum Disease

When we think of oral health issues we think primarily of tooth decay, but the truth is that not taking good care of your teeth can also result in gum disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. The gums are an important part of your mouth and they can be greatly affected by a lack of good oral hygiene.

There is a great amount of bacteria in the mouth, especially between the teeth and along the gumline. When the mouth and teeth are not regularly and thoroughly cleaned, bacteria will grow and start to eat away at the soft tissue of the gums. This is the beginning of gum disease. As this deterioration worsens, gums will become inflamed and painful and can sometimes bleed. Very severe cases of gum disease will also cause teeth to become loose in their sockets which can lead to tooth loss. Gum disease should be treated by a professional dental service.

Prevents Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is a natural consequence of poor oral hygiene. When bacteria stay on the teeth for prolonged periods of time, they will start to eat away at the tooth enamel. This decay will then expose the nerves inside the tooth making the tooth painful. Severe tooth decay often leads to tooth loss, according to Harvard Health. You should seek out a dental service if this happens for treatment.

Prevents Infection

Both gum disease and tooth decay can lead to serious infections in the mouth, gums, and even jaw. Infections of this nature can spread to other parts of the body. A serious infection that is left unchecked could cause sepsis in the body which is a severe uncontrolled infection moving throughout the body, according to the National Institutes of Health. All of these problems can be avoided when you practice good oral hygiene such as brushing twice a day and flossing once a day.

With these benefits in mind, it's vital that you take proper care of your teeth. Visiting your local dentist can be a great start. If you're looking for a dental service to help get your oral health back on track, call Claude Daniel, DDS today. We can get you set up with an appointment!