How is Oral Health Important to General Health?

The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that every individual on this planet should have a right to the highest possible level of health. Their vision of ‘Health for All’ has been the driving force of supporting countries in moving towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). WHO is celebrating World Health Day on April 7, 2018, wherein they want to emphasize the importance of general health. And, we at Monarch Dental Clinic in Vadodara, Gujarat want to do our part by offering free dental consultation to all for the entire month of April 2018!

A healthy body forms the basis of your well-being and defines how well you will age. Maintaining an active life through exercise and proper nutrition results in a strong immune system. It increases mental alertness, elevates mood and reduces chronic disease risk as well. However, many people tend to overlook one key factor that affects the overall health — their oral health.

Why is Oral Health Important to Overall Health

Dental health is absolutely essential to your overall physical as well as psychological health. Keeping the mouth and teeth healthy helps in enhancing social interaction and builds self-esteem — apart from enabling nutrition of the physical body. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that the mouth is a ‘window’ to your overall health and provides indicators of general health disorders. For example:

• Pale or bleeding gums point towards blood disorders
• Mouth lesions may be the first signs of HIV infection
• Bone loss in the lower jaw could be an early indicator of skeletal osteoporosis
• Aphthous ulcers usually are a result of Coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease
• Changes in tooth appearance indicate eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia
• It is possible to detect the presence of various compounds, such as alcohol, drugs, nicotine, hormones, opiates, antibodies and environmental toxins, in the saliva.

Just like any area of the body, bacteria are present in the mouth as well. Most of these bacteria are harmless and can be kept under control by good oral hygiene and through our body’s natural defenses. However, without proper oral hygiene and dental care, these bacteria can reach high levels leading to oral infections, like tooth decay and gum disease.

The bacteria may also cause infection in other parts of the body when the immune system gets compromised due to some diseases or medical treatments such as infective endocarditis. Numerous periodontal diseases (gum diseases) are also associated with systemic conditions. Treatments for these systematic conditions impact oral health and cause symptoms like reduced saliva flow and an altered balance of oral microorganisms.

Importance of Regular Dental Check-Ups

Regular brushing and flossing are good dental hygiene practices that everyone must follow on a daily basis. Along with that, getting regular dental check-ups is important for maintaining optimal oral hygiene.

Here are a few reasons why you should book an appointment with the dentist today:

• Dental examinations help in identifying problems before they get worse.
• Not every dental problem involves a toothache. There could be times when the biggest oral problems go undetected and it is generally too late when they become painful. By this point, even the damage gets very extensive. Getting regular dental X-rays help in detecting these issues.
• Dental check-ups include a screening for oral cancer, thus allowing the dentists to identify early stages of cancer, if any.

Now that you know the importance of dental hygiene to your overall health, don’t wait to get your free consultation at Monarch Dental Clinic in Vadodara. In support of WHO and to do our part in “Health for All’ we are offering a free consultation for everyone for the entire month of April 2018. Call +917016730440 to book your appointment today!