How Poor Dental Care Can Affect Your Overall Health

You just had a scrumptious meal but you didn’t bother flossing your teeth. Your mom always told you to brush twice daily but you conveniently ignored. Now that you have a throbbing tooth ache, you immediately regret your past decisions. However, poor oral hygiene can do more harm to your body than you can possibly think of. It can be a cause for a number of diseases and complicate already existing health conditions.

Heart disease: Research shows that people suffering from gum disease are more prone to heart diseases than those having healthy gums. The bacteria and plaque developed on your gums can enter the bloodstream which can harden your arteries. This can make the arteries narrow, thereby restricting the flow of blood to the heart. Further, the bacteria can also clot arteries which in turn can lead to a heart attack.

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Oral Health Diseseas: Causes and Symptoms

The mouth performs a number of functions and yet is the most ignored part of the human body. Teeth perform the function of chewing whereas the saliva mixes with the food and breaks it down to enable easy digestion. Further, every part of your mouth such as gums, teeth, tongue and lips have something to say about your oral health. It is therefore important to watch out for any signs that may be indicative of an oral disease and take immediate action, if required.

Learn about what you should expect when analyzing your oral health and symptoms you should not ignore:

• Gums: Healthy gums help to hold your teeth in place. Your gums are healthy if they are firm, pale pink and don’t bleed while you brush. On the other hand, red, swollen and puffy gums can be indicative of poor oral health. Watch out for inflammation and bleeding of gums that can be symptoms of gingivitis which is the first stage of gum disease. Seeking proper dental treatment can help reverse damage at this stage. If no treatment is sought, it can progressively develop into periodontitis and advanced periodontitis which can cause irreversible damage to your gums and teeth.

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Space Maintainers: Types of Space Maintainers

Did your toddler fall off the bed and lose his/her tooth? If yes, it may be time for a check-up. Early tooth loss in kids can make the permanent tooth lose its guide and grow in a wrong position in the mouth. It can also make the surrounding teeth bend or move into the gap created. This reduces the space required for the development of the permanent tooth. In such a situation, your dentist may recommend using a space maintainer for your child.

Space maintainers maintain the space created as a result of the fallen baby tooth till the permanent tooth comes in. There are different types of space maintainers that can be found. They can be divided into four broad categories i.e. Unilateral, Bilateral, Fixed and Removable.

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Common Gum Disease Symptoms

Gums that are pink and firm are indicators of a healthy body. However, if you notice that your gums are changing colours, there may be various reasons behind it. While gum discolouration to an extent is a normal occurrence, it can also be a sign of an underlying disease. Learn more about what the colour of your gums has to say about your overall health. 

White: Gums can be white due to a number of reasons including fungal infection and leukoplakia. Thrush is a fungal infection recognized by the presence of white lesions in your mouth which can be on your tongue, inner cheeks and sometimes on your gums. Leukoplakia is a precancerous condition and can lead to the formation of white or grey patches on your gums inside your mouth. Patients are advised to quit smoking and go for regular dental check-ups.

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