A dentist is your go-to person when you want to fix a tooth issue or maintain the health of your teeth and gums. But do you know visiting a dentist can also significantly improve your overall health? Indeed, your oral health has a very real positive or negative impact on both your physical and mental wellbeing. To help you learn more, this post discusses four health benefits of visiting your dentist.
It Could Prevent Diabetes
According to studies, if periodontal disease is ignored, it progresses to cause an abnormal rise in blood sugar levels. With regular dental visits, you can catch periodontal disease early and treat it before it messes with your blood sugar levels. And, even if you already have diabetes, treating gum disease improves your blood sugar control; thus, preventing the progression of diabetes.
Detect Cancer Early
Diagnosing cancer early is critical to managing the disease and improving your survival rates. During dental examinations, your dentist will check if there are any signs of cancer in your mouth. For example, a mouth ulcer that won't heal may indicate neck or head cancer. Persistent sores, lesions, or issues with the salivary glands may be symptoms of throat or mouth cancer.
If your dentist sees any suspicious sign, they will biopsy the area and forward it to a pathologist to determine if there are cancer cells or not. This could save your life, another reason not to miss your annual dental checkups.
Improve Your Brain Health
Researchers have found that there is a close link between your brain and your teeth. Dental diseases like periodontal disease and cavities produce toxic bacteria that can enter your bloodstream and affect your overall body functioning.
In the unfortunate event that these bacteria spread to your brain, your brain health is significantly affected. In fact, some recent studies show a close link between gum disease and the growth of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Regular dental care is essential to preventing the spread of the bacteria inside your mouth so that your brain health can remain in top shape.
Allow You to Eat Healthier
When you're suffering from tooth sensitivity, toothache, bleeding gums, or missing teeth, it can be challenging to eat certain types of food. You may even prefer to stick to soft, easily-chewable foods; hence, ruling out most healthy foods. Unfortunately, this takes a massive toll on your overall health.
Dentists are professionally trained to fix all your teeth or gum problems. By visiting them regularly, you will have healthy teeth or high-quality restorations that allow you to eat all your favorite foods. You can have balanced diets to boost your energy levels and overall health. Contact a dentist to learn more.
Share5 November 2021
I have always brushed and flossed my teeth daily, but I still had the occasional cavity when I visited the dentist for a check-up. He told me it was normal to have a cavity on occasion and that I shouldn't let it stress me out too much. Well, I am not one to just accept any problem I am having, so I started looking into how to improve my oral hygiene even more. I had always thought mouthwash was just to improve your breath, but I found some that said they helped keep cavities away. I started using one every day before bed. I haven't had a cavity in two years now, and I think the mouth rinse is the reason! I created this blog to remind other people that even if they brush and floss regularly, they can always find ways to take even better care of their teeth.