Dental care isn’t just for children, and it isn’t just for senior adults. It’s for both and everyone in between. Trust us when we say that oral health care is about more than just having a bright, shiny smile. While we certainly love helping our patients achieve that goal, it is much more about helping them achieve optimal oral health that improves every area of their lives.
Children, teens, young adults, middle-aged adults, and senior adults should all attend regular dental cleaning and exam appointments every six months (at least!). Why? Because a healthy mouth means a healthier body and mind and a more fulfilling life.
The Mouth-Body Connection
Many people think of the mouth as a separate entity from the body. In reality, one has a significant impact on the other.
People who don’t attend regular dental cleanings are much more likely to suffer from cavities, gum disease, and other serious oral health problems. Plaque build-up eats away at dental enamel and gum tissue. Eventually, this can lead to severe pain, bleeding gums, inflamed gums, redness, and bone loss. If left untreated, the bacteria can infiltrate the bloodstream, spreading the inflammation throughout the body.
The spreading of the bacteria may contribute to serious overall health problems, such as:
- Heart disease
- Endocarditis
- Low birth weight
- Premature birth
- Diabetes
- Alzheimer’s disease
Regular dental care and proper oral hygiene are two of the best defenses against these oral and overall health problems.
How the State of our Mouths Affects Our Minds
An unhealthy smile can certainly affect how our brains function. If the oral bacteria spread to the brain, it can cause inflammation that leads to brain fog and may contribute to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Additionally, patients with an unattractive smile because of a lack of dental care often suffer from low self-esteem, higher stress levels, and less fulfilling lives. According to a survey completed by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, a beautiful smile makes a person appear smarter, more successful, and happier. The impacts of these assumptions may lead to more and better job opportunities, higher confidence levels, and a better social life.
People with attractive, healthy smiles are also more likely to smile which has been proven to boost your mood, lower stress levels, increase creativity, and make those around you happier. We know that a healthy mouth doesn’t always equal a beautiful smile; however, when patients attend regular dental cleanings every six months, they usually have brighter smiles than those who don’t. This also provides an opportunity for the patient to discuss cosmetic treatments or orthodontic solutions to their aesthetic dental issues.
How A Healthy Mouth Leads to a More Fulfilling Life
Because of how a healthy mouth affects both our bodies and minds, it’s no surprise that people with healthy, beautiful smiles often lead more fulfilling lives. Patients with healthy smiles spend less time worried about cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss and more time doing things they enjoy with people they love.
Helping patients live more fulfilling lives is why Dr. Helen Ragsdale is so passionate about providing affordable, gentle dental care. If you’re ready to get your smile to a healthy place and maybe even improve it through cosmetic dental treatments, don’t wait any longer to contact our friendly dental team at (512) 346-4690.
