Patients who get dental implants in Orange County don’t truly understand that the dentist you choose is essential for your overall health. As a matter of fact, there’s a lot more to oral health than achieving a bright smile, getting zirconia implants, and preventing cavities. Dentists who carry out dental implants in Orange County say that dentistry is elaborately connected to your complete health and wellness. 

Severe health problems are linked to poor oral health, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other conditions. Visiting your Mission Viejo dentist for dental implants is more crucial than you have ever imagined. You have to learn more about the connection between oral health and general health and what you can do to take better care of both. 

What’s The Link Between Oral Health And Overall Health?

It all boils down to bacteria and how they hang out in a “biofilm.” Our mouths have lots of bacteria. Some bacteria are harmless, while some can cause diseases.

If you maintain your oral health with healthy eating, drinking water frequently, regular brushing, flossing, and other good habits, the bacteria in your mouth usually go for a healthful environment. On the other hand, if you have bad habits such as eating acidic foods, frequent snacking, and consuming fermentable carbohydrates, “bad” bacteria can lead to severe issues such as tooth decay and gum disease. 

The total magnitude of the mouth-body connection is still being researched, but it’s safe to say that the issues start with these “bad” bacteria and how they influence the body. 

Immune System Problems

When a person has gum disease, their body’s immune system bounces into action to fight the infection. Nevertheless, the enzymes that the immune system releases can further damage gum tissue and the bone supporting your teeth. Also, the immune system makes many other chemicals in the body, including some that may be responsible for other health issues such as heart disease.

Bacteria On The Go

The bacteria in your mouth don’t stay only in your mouth. Bacteria can go all over your body by getting into the bloodstream through the gums. When it’s in your bloodstream, oral bacteria travels and infects other tissues, including the heart, liver, and gut. Also, it has been linked to respiratory infections and even dementia. 

What Does Good Overall Health Do For Your Overall Health?

Help Manage Diabetes

There’s a strong connection between diabetes and gum disease. If you have high blood sugar levels, there’s a high chance you could get gum disease, and gum disease can make it more challenging for insulin in the body to function correctly. Medical professionals believe gum disease to be a massive complication of gum diabetes. Furthermore, it can be a Catch-22 situation to manage the two. 

Research has proven that specific types of bacteria that reside under the gums can genuinely cause diabetes. These bacteria are determinable by a simple, contemporary DNA test or a microscopic evaluation. You should ensure that you have found the appropriate dentist knowledgeable of and using DNA sampling tests or a phase-contrast microscope in the office. Those will be the kinds of dentists who are keener in treating the causes of your health problems instead of just the symptoms.

Fortunately, the bacteria under your gums can’t only be determined but treated in a minimally invasive method using laser and ozone gum therapy. If you aim for and achieve healthy teeth and gums, your body will have less resistance to using insulin. If you have diabetes, make sure you visit your holistic dentist in Mission Viejo or Orange County regularly and practice good oral hygiene habits.

Reduce Your Risk For Heart Disease

Additionally, there’s a link between gum disease and heart disease. The risk factors for gum disease and heart disease include smoking, obesity, and an unhealthy diet. Nonetheless, researchers are presently aware that there’s a more direct association.

Inflammation in the mouth promotes inflammation in the blood vessels. This can increase the risk for heart attack by increasing blood pressure or boosting the possibility of fatty plaque breaking off and heading towards the heart or brain. Not to mention, about 91% of patients with heart disease have periodontitis (gum disease) as well.

Support A Healthy Pregnancy

For pregnant women, gum disease can result in huge problems. It has been connected to premature birth and low birthweight babies. Even though the connection between gum disease and other health conditions is more significant, it’s essential to be aware of the risk. 

Sadly, your risk of gum disease increases during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, make sure you visit your Orange County or Mission Viejo dentist regularly and practice good oral health habits. Please do your best to be proactive about your dental health since it’s another critical step in supporting a safe and healthy pregnancy. 

The Best Advice For Oral Health With Overall Health Impact

Keep your teeth, along with your body, in good health by following these vital tips:

• Brush and Floss Properly: The base for good oral health is getting into the habit of brushing and flossing regularly. Make sure you’re using the correct technique! 
• Visit Your Dentist Regularly: If you work with an excellent dentist and dental hygienist, you will likely stay healthier throughout life. Commit to your whole-body health by beginning and keeping a relationship with a caring team of oral health professionals
• Quit Smoking: Have you heard what smoking does? It can kill you! Quitting isn’t easy, but it’s absolutely worth it!
• Eat a Healthy Diet: What you eat affects your mouth, teeth, and your entire body. Make sure you’re eating a healthy, clean diet, reducing snacking, and trying to avoid sugars as much as possible. 
• Don’t Put It Off: If you haven’t been following this advice and you’ve seen some issues developing in your mouth, visit a dentist in Mission Viejo or Orange County as soon as possible. Don’t hesitate!