Photo by Peter Kasprzyk

Originally Posted On: https://craftyourhappiness.com/2020/03/30/why-dental-health-is-so-important/

Dental health is often neglected, especially in adults. We are constantly telling kids how important it is to brush their teeth and visit the dentist on a regular basis, but a lot of adults are bad at following their own advice. This is usually because people underestimate the importance of dental health. They assume that, as long as they don’t have any obvious tooth pain, they are fine and they don’t need to see a dentist. But dental health is about more than just cavities, and it can have a big impact on your overall health. These are some of the reasons why dental health is more important than you realize.

Make sure to check out this post. Its a dentist proven method to help not only prevent cavities but help heal and correct different types of tooth problems.   Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye : Heal Cavities!

It Affects Mental Health

A lot of people don’t realize that there is a strong link between mental health and dental health, but there is. If you are self conscious about your teeth, it can cause you to avoid social situations as you are worried what people will think about you. Poor dental hygiene can also lead to bad breath, which causes social issues as well. Check out this blog post about bad breath to learn more about the causes and the impact of bad breath and poor dental hygiene. All of these social issues caused by dental health issues make people more likely to avoid social situations and isolate themselves, and this kind of social isolation is one of the biggest contributors to mental health issues like depression.

It Increases Your Risk Of Heart Disease

When you are trying to look after your heart health, it is important that you exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet. But it’s equally important that you manage your dental health because gum infections can actually increase your risk of heart disease. It is believed that inflammation in the gums caused by an infection, like gingivitis, can lead to inflammation in the arteries throughout the body. This increases your risk of clogged arteries and heart disease in later life, so it is vital that you stay on top of your dental health if you want to look after your heart as you get older.

It Affects Gut Health

In the last few years, there has been a lot of research into gut health. It is becoming clear that the bacteria in your gut has a very important role to play in your overall physical and mental health, and any imbalance can lead to a wide range of different health issues. Unfortunately, this imbalance in the bacteria in your gut can be caused by bad oral hygiene. If you have infections in your gums and a lot of bad bacteria growing in your mouth, this can travel through your digestive system into the stomach and have a big negative impact on your gut health. This can then lead to an increased risk of mental health issues, digestive issues, weight gain, and all sorts of other health problems.

Poor dental health will not just lead to a few cavities, it can have an adverse effect on your overall physical and mental health, so it is vital that you pay careful attention to your teeth and gums.  Smile!