The next time you visit your dentist for a professional dental cleaning, you may be getting unexpected, surprising benefits. While dental cleanings improve the appearance of your teeth and lower your risk for gum disease, having your teeth regularly cleaned by your dentist or hygienist may improve your overall state of general health. Here are three surprising benefits of dental cleanings and how they can contribute to your well-being.
1. Lower Risk For Cardiovascular Disease
Gum disease and poor oral hygiene may play an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease. When people fail to get regular dental cleanings, a body-wide inflammatory response can occur. This can cause pain, fever, lethargy, and systemic inflammation, including inflammation of your arteries.
It is thought that arterial inflammation may be more of a risk factor for heart attack and stroke than high cholesterol, but further studies need to be done to confirm this finding. To lower your risk for cardiovascular disease, maintain a healthy weight, don't smoke, monitor your blood pressure, and visit your dentist on a regular basis for examinations and cleanings.
2. Better Vision
If plaque, tartar, or calculus is not removed from your teeth and under your gum line by your dental professional, anaerobic or aerobic bacteria from these substances may affect the cranial nerve responsible for your vision.
This nerve is known as the optic nerve, and when it becomes inflamed as a result of bacterial invasion, you may develop blurred or double vision, eye pain, or diminished peripheral vision. If you experience any of these symptoms, visit both your dentist and eye doctor to determine if the source of your optic nerve impairment is the result of a dental problem.
3. Prevent Sinus Infections
In addition to raising your risk for vision problems, avoiding dental cleanings for long periods of time can also heighten your risk of developing a sinus infection. Bacteria from the upper row of your teeth and gums can travel into your sinuses, causing a bacterial infection.
If you develop nasal congestion, thick or colored mucus, a bad taste in your mouth, a diminished sense of taste or smell, or facial pain, you may have a sinus infection brought on by oral bacteria. If your symptoms are bacterial in nature rather than viral, your physician may recommend a course of antibiotics.
In the meantime, see your dentist for a cleaning and check-up. The cleaner your teeth are, the less likely you will be to develop a dental-related sinus infection
If you have put off getting your teeth cleaned, make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. When you take care of your teeth, you will not only be improving your dental health but your medical health as well.
Share3 June 2018
Do you remember the last time you looked at your smile and really loved what you saw? A few years ago I started spending more time analyzing my appearance, and I noticed that my teeth were seriously lacking. I knew that I had to do something to improve the situation, so I began focusing on loving my smile by getting some work done. I started talking with a dentist about how he could help, and it was really incredible to see the simple difference that he was able to make. Within a few years, my smile looked and felt completely different, and I was really pleased with the results. Check out this blog for great information on making your smile more beautiful.
