3 More Reasons It's Time To Start Looking After Your Oral Health

Be honest, how many of you properly look after your oral health? Do you brush twice a day, floss a few times per week, and go to the dentist every few months? If the answer is yes, then give yourself a big pat on the back!

But, I’m willing to bet the answer was a resounding no from most of you. Our oral health isn’t something we tend to think about that much. At least, not compared to other aspects of our health. However, it’s an area that you very much need to focus on. Why? Well, here’s what can happen when you don’t:

Oral health issues can be extremely painful
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There are so many different problems that come from a poor oral hygiene routine. The most common of which is dental decay. This is where your teeth basically start eroding, and they need fillings. One of these can be very painful, especially if the decay gets very deep into the tooth. Then, you have more serious and painful issues that can affect the nerves in your teeth and lead to excruciating chronic pain. You can avoid all of this by simply looking after your teeth and gums a bit better every single day. 
Oral health issues can cause heart disease Yep, problems in your mouth can cause problems throughout your body. Most notably, there are links between your oral health and heart disease. If you don’t look after your teeth and gums, you end up with bacteria in your mouth. This usually comes from the previously mentioned decay. What happens to all of these bacteria? It enters your body whenever you swallow. From here, it can get into your bloodstream and get sent to your heart. This increases the chances of developing heart disease. So, you can eat all the fruit & veg in the world - and exercise as much as possible - but you still put your heart at risk with a poor oral hygiene routine. 

Oral health issues impact your mental health
The big problem with many dental issues is that they leave you with a very ugly smile. Your teeth may be discolored, your breath smells, and you’ve got gaps where some teeth have fallen out. All of this plays on your mental health as you lose confidence in yourself and become self-conscious. The sad thing is that preventative dentistry exists to stop things from getting out of control like this. If you got treatment and had preventative measures put in place, then you can stop teeth from falling out and hold onto your nice smile. When you’re unhappy with your smile or you feel like you have bad breath, it stops you from wanting to go out and socialize, meaning you can fall into depression. 

Your oral health is more important than you think. It’s not just about your teeth, it has an impact on your overall health, wellbeing, and lifestyle. The good news is that it’s very easy to take better care of your mouth. All you need to do is avoid sugary foods, brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste every morning and night, then floss regularly. Visit your dentist for regular checkups, and everything will be fine!
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