Regardless of how often and how thoroughly you brush and floss your teeth, your mouth is abounding with naturally occurring bacteria. Although you need some level of good bacteria for your health, harmful bacteria can lead to severe illnesses. It is essential for your general health to practice good dental hygiene. Our dentists at Toothworks are always available for frequent examinations and helpful tips. Read on to learn how our oral hygiene impacts our overall general health.
Maintaining Oral Health Throughout History
Oral hygiene has been an important issue since the start of humanity. Some historical methods of maintaining oral health include using herbs to treat infected gums. Another civilization used beer to numb tooth pain. The natural bacteria found in beer are similar to those in the antibiotic tetracycline. From the very beginning, we knew dental hygiene had an impact on our health.
Dental Hygiene and Gum Disease
Today’s biggest dental hygiene challenge is gum disease.
Gum disease affects 47.2 percent of Americans. Why such a high number? Simply put, people ignore the bleeding and inflammation in their mouths. Imagine, however, if any other part of your body was suffering from the same symptoms. You would immediately find a solution. Why should it be any different for your mouth? The longer you ignore your gum disease, the more serious the consequences are. Your mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body. Untreated gum disease can lead to heart attacks, arthritis, and even cancer.
We can’t stress the importance of taking care of your oral health enough. This means quit all your bad dental hygiene habits now! It will save you money and pain in the not-so-distant future. Toothworks in Calgary suggests biannual appointments with your dentist to maintain good oral health. Call us today to schedule your next appointment!
