Taking care of your dental health, including your gums and teeth, is a good goal. However, during the COVID-19 crisis, it is even more important. When you have a healthy mouth, you may be more able to fight off medical disorders. If your mouth is not healthy, you may be at a higher risk of infections. Keep reading to learn more.
The mouth can help a dentist tell what is going on in the rest of the body. Often, the dentist can detect early symptoms and signs of disease in the whole body. For example, conditions such as diabetes or AIDS are often noticeable as lesions in the mouth. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, more than 90% of systemic diseases have oral signs.
Saliva is one of the main defenses of the body against viruses. There are antibodies that attack pathogens. There are proteins known as histatins. These can prevent fungus from growing. However, illnesses can prevent the saliva from producing these substances.
The saliva works to protect the mouth against viruses. However, it cannot always do the job properly. There are more than 500 types of bacteria that live in the mouth. This causes plaque to form, which can cause dental health problems. This can make the mouth a source of infection.
Without regular dental care, plaque may build up near the gumline. This causes pockets between the teeth and gums as the tissues pull away. The gaps are good spaces for bacteria to accumulate. In the early stages, this is known as gingivitis. Without treatment, it can lead to more serious gum disease. A severe form is known as trench mouth.
Normally, the bacteria in the mouth do not go into the bloodstream. However, sometimes invasive dental treatments can allow the microbes to enter. Even flossing or brushing with gum disease can allow them to go to the bloodstream. In other cases, antibiotics might disrupt the balance of bacteria in the mouth. Treatments might reduce the saliva flow. In both of these cases, the mouth’s defenses are compromised.
When the immune system is healthy, having oral bacteria in the bloodstream is not a problem. The system will quickly remove them and prevent infection. However, the immune system may be compromised if an infection such as gum disease is present. When the bacteria enter the bloodstream, the body may become weaker. This makes the immune system less able to fight off other illnesses. One example is infective endocarditis, where the oral bacteria stick to diseased heart valves.
Taking care of your dental health can help you stay healthy through the viral outbreak. You can help your overall well-being through regular flossing and brushing. When you cannot see your dentist, home care is even more important. That way, both your teeth and your body will stay well.
Request an appointment here: https://www.bridgewaterfamilydental.com or call Bridgewater Family Dental at (513) 712-9642 for an appointment in our Hamilton office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
Periodontics care is specialized dental care for treating and preventing periodontal disease from reappearing. Scaling and root planing may be performed on patients with periodontal disease to eliminate bacterial plaque and other toxins. Gum disease-causing bacteria can reappear three to four months after initial treatment. As a result, the dentist will recommend coming for cleanings…
Seeing a preventive dentist is a vital part of your oral healthcare routine each year. However, many people skip this essential step because they do not want to spend time at a dental office. Fortunately, a preventive dentist provides many valuable services that can help your smile last a lifetime and stop future issues before…
Endodontics treatment, which is the treatment of the tooth's inner pulp and structures, is one of the most efficient ways to save decaying or damaged teeth. Many individuals, however, get anxious when they learn they need it. This is mostly due to the widespread misconception that undergoing endodontic treatment is unpleasant. It is incorrect —…
Your teeth are one of the first things that people notice about you, and if you are not confident about your smile, a dental veneer might be on your mind as a possible solution. It is one way to change how a tooth looks, but there are many other options. So, why opt for veneers…
The most important thing to remember about gum disease is that early detection is critical.…
Fortunately, a preventive dentist provides many valuable services that can help your smile last a…
Endodontics treatment, which is the treatment of the tooth's inner pulp and structures, is one…
Dental veneers are coverings that sit on the front, visible surfaces of the teeth.
Preventive care often gets overlooked as it relates to general dentistry, however, it plays a…
In the unlikely event that you suffer from a significant laceration to the inner mouth,…