Now that the new year is here, it’s the perfect time to create new resolutions to ensure you can be working on improving yourself both mentally and physically. You may want to lose weight, spend less time on social media, or make new friends. Focusing on your oral health is also key to ensure you can feel proud to show off your smile and improve your well-being. Many people are unaware of how much poor oral health can impact their wellness and is linked to different diseases and conditions. You should take the necessary steps to improve the quality of your teeth and gums to ensure they’re in the best shape possible and can last a lifetime. It’s also important to visit a dental professional every six months to undergo exams and routine check-ups. By staying proactive about the care you receive, it will allow your dental professional to detect potential issues that are developing, whether you have the first signs of tooth decay or gum disease. Early treatment can reverse the effects and allow you to see an improvement in a matter of months under the supervision and guidance of your dentist.
It’s easy to forget how much bacteria is present in our mouth, which can make it easy to get behind with daily brushing and flossing. If we fail to brush and floss consistently, it can lead to significant plaque build-up and oral infection, along with gum disease and cavities. Those who develop gum disease are at a high risk of periodontitis. The severity of periodontitis can put you at a higher risk of other types of diseases, which include diseases related to the heart. Periodontitis involves a lot of inflammation, which can lead to a lower birth weight or premature birth. If you also have HIV/AIDS, the oral problems you experience can also be heightened and more serious because the body has less resistance to infections. Additional conditions and disorders linked to periodontisis include eating disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, and certain types of head and neck cancers. The severity of the conditions and the increased health risks makes it necessary to take your oral health seriously in the new year to ensure you protect yourself by taking the necessary steps.
Although it can be scary what poor oral health can lead to, there’s still good news. You can be in control of your teeth and gums to ensure you protect your health by remaining proactive. Visiting the dentist twice every year and brushing and flossing twice each day will prove to go a long way. It’s also necessary to adjust your eating habits. Make it a point to cut out sugary foods and carbohydrates. You also want to stick to larger meals instead of snacking throughout the day, which can cause food particles to always sit on your teeth.
Quitting a smoking habit or tobacco use is an additional step to take in the new year, which can cause layers of tartar to form when the germs sit on your teeth for too long. If you smoke for an extended period of time, it can even lead to tooth loss. It can also make you three to six times more likely to develop gum disease.
Research also shows that patients with inflammation caused by periodontitis may experience more severe COVID-19 complications, according to an article published online July 30 in the Journal of the California Dental Association.
Can gum disease affect COVID-19 severity. Research suggests that it can.
By caring for your teeth and gums properly, it can allow you to have more comfort in your mouth and avoid potential issues that can develop in the future, which can be costly. Forming new habits in 2021 will prove to pay off and can offer peace of mind knowing that your teeth are in excellent condition.