Oral Care Is Essential Healthcare
Do you know someone who believes routine dental care isn’t all that important? Maybe that’s how you feel. Are you someone who brushes their teeth once or twice a day, occasionally flosses, and only visits the dentist when there’s a problem? If so, this blog post is for you!
It’s unfortunate, but many people have been led to believe that dental care isn’t a necessity. It’s our mission to debunk that and help people understand that oral health care is essential and should be part of your daily healthcare routine.
Your Mouth Is Part of Your Body
Most people understand what it takes to stay healthy. They know to choose healthy foods, drink water, exercise, and get good sleep every night. They go to their primary care physician once or twice a year for a physical to ensure everything is functioning properly and there’s no sign of disease. But, they don’t see a dentist for routine exams and cleanings.
The mouth is part of the body, so why would we not consider taking care of it essential to staying healthy? Brushing and flossing every day is key to overall health, as important as maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, drinking water, and getting a good night’s sleep, and here’s why:
- An infection in the mouth can easily enter the bloodstream and spread to another part of the body, including the heart or another vital organ.
- A painful, decaying tooth can make chewing food unbearable, requiring a person to alter their healthy eating habits.
- Tooth decay will never heal on its own — instead, it will spread throughout the tooth, eventually causing it to crack, break, or fall out.
- Even one missing tooth will weaken the jawbone over time, making additional tooth loss far more likely.
- In the early stages, gum disease is painless and difficult to detect without a dental exam, and the further it progresses, the harder it is to reverse.
Brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing at least once a day, and visiting the dentist every four to six months for an examination and cleaning minimizes the risk of oral infection, tooth decay, tooth loss, and gum disease.
A Healthy Mouth = Whole-Body Health
Skipping out on oral hygiene and putting off routine dental appointments is never a good idea because minor issues can worsen quickly, and not all oral health diseases have visible signs. Some problems we can only detect with close examination or X-ray imaging. Everyone’s oral care routine should include visiting the dentist at least twice a year, since brushing and flossing alone can’t keep all plaque away. Only a dentist’s expertise and special tools can do that.
Essential Healthcare
The mouth performs so many functions vital to overall health, like chewing and speaking. It also helps us breathe, and saliva is an important element in fighting systemic disease. Not to mention, a healthy mouth means a lower chance of heart disease and diabetes. So, it stands to reason that a healthy mouth is a major factor in a person’s overall well-being.
Don’t Wait Any Longer
If you’re due for an exam and cleaning, you’ve been ignoring a tooth problem, or it’s time to schedule exams and cleanings for your children, contact Elice Dental Care, located in Hazlet, NJ, today for an appointment. We want to keep you and your family smiling!
