Dental Care and Your Health -

Dental Care and Your Health

I hate going to the dentist. I am tense the whole time and I always come home exhausted. But I go because I know it’s important. Until recently I didn’t know that there is a direct connection from your dental health to your overall health.

Just what is the connection between oral health and your overall health?

If you stop and think about it your mouth is a great place for germs to enter your body. Most of what goes into our mouth is harmless but there is always the chance of getting bacteria and sometimes this leads to disease.

This is where dental care helps. If we brush and use floss daily we can help keep bacteria down. No one wants oral infections, tooth decay or gum disease. Preventative care matters!

According to the Mayo Clinic…

Your oral health might contribute to various diseases and conditions, including:

Endocarditis. This infection of the inner lining of your heart chambers or valves (endocardium) typically occurs when bacteria or other germs from another part of your body, such as your mouth, spread through your bloodstream and attach to certain areas in your heart.
Cardiovascular disease. Although the connection is not fully understood, some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke might be linked to the inflammation and infections that oral bacteria can cause.
Pregnancy and birth complications. Periodontitis has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
Pneumonia. Certain bacteria in your mouth can be pulled into your lungs, causing pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.
For more info from the Mayo Clinic click here.

Keeping Our Teeth

A friend of mine had an uncle who would take his teeth out and chase her around the room with them when she was little. She thought it was ridiculously funny.

I don’t know about you but I don’t want dentures. Knowing me I’d lose them or my dog would eat them. So I have to take good care of my teeth and gums, even though I HATE going to the dentist. I don’t detest it as much as I once did because for years I refused to try nitrous oxide. I don’t know why but I was afraid of it. I guess there is always fear of the unknown. I finally did try it and it helps.

It usually wears off quickly but one time when I had been to the dentist for a long procedure I found out that sometimes that isn’t the case. After my procedure that day I went to K-mart. I was pushing my cart along and stopping occasionally to get items when I cut a corner too short, hit a soft drink display and knocked cans everywhere. I couldn’t clean it up because I couldn’t stop laughing! I ended up leaving my items and going back to my car where I listened to the radio until I was sure I was fine to drive. Belated apologies to the folks that had to clean up my mess and put my items back on the shelves.