Looking after your teeth is not something that we should really have to convince you to do. With that said, some people are unaware of how dreadful the consequences of not looking after your teeth and gums can be, which is why we have written this page. Some people’s oral hygiene is terrible and will undoubtedly give way to severe health problems in the future, both orally and elsewhere (as can actually happen). Looking after your teeth and gums is actually incredibly straightforward and easy, all it requires you to do is to floss, brush, and rinse with mouthwash twice daily.
In this article, we are going to tell you why you need to keep your gums and teeth healthy, and what the consequences of not doing so can be. We hope that this page will give you a much-needed reality check if this applies to you and that you will start taking serious care of your teeth so that you do not suffer from poor oral hygiene and its many consequences.
What’re you waiting for? Pick up a brush and start brushing, and while you’re at, read this article!
Here’s why you need to keep your gums and teeth healthy.
Save Yourself Money
Trips to the dentist can be expensive, but by taking care of your teeth, you do not need to spend a fortune on trips to and from the dental office. In fact, according to the dental specialists from Willow Pass Dental Care, by visiting the dentist once, you get such high-quality treatment that unless there are any immediate problems, you will not need to return for a while. Going to the dentist once and looking after your teeth at home is a great way to keep your gums and teeth healthy and save yourself money.
The Smell of Your Breath
If you do not take care of your teeth, your breath will smell, it is a fact. If you have ever had the misfortune of speaking to somebody who does not take care of their teeth and brush them regularly, you will know how uncomfortable it can be, and how badly you just wanted to tell them to brush their teeth. The smell of your breath can be oppressive for others, too, not just yourself, so please take care of yourself and brush your teeth for that reason alone.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a condition that you can get if you do not take care of your teeth. Up to four in five Americans have gingivitis, so there is no reason that you cannot get it. If you do not take care of your oral health, then you will definitely get it. It is easily treated, yes, but can give way to more serious conditions quite easily, and it is easy to live with it completely undetected. Gingivitis is not a condition we imagine you want to have, so please just look after your teeth and avoid it.
Periodontitis
Periodontitis is what happens when gingivitis is left untreated. It is a very serious oral condition that can result in you losing some of your teeth. The signs of periodontitis are often red, inflamed gums, that are sore and bleed. This is a condition that is not as easily treated as gingivitis – so catch it early – or prevent it altogether by jut taking care of your teeth. Periodontitis is not a condition that you want to play with, we assure you, for it can cause serious problems for your teeth and gums and is very difficult to get rid of.
Infections
When you do not take care of your teeth and gums, you open yourself up to infections of various kinds. So that you can avoid infections, which will have to be treated with antibiotics, you could just, well, brush your teeth? Yes, it is that easy. However, over time, the more and more you neglect your oral health, you will find yourself unable to fight off and prevent infections – the less you take care of your mouth the more frequently you will develop infections, ranging from severe to insignificant. Infections can make you very unwell if they are not caught early.
Trench Mouth
Trench mouth, which is a condition that gets its name from the First World War, is an extreme case of gingivitis, but not one that we imagine you will want to get. Trench mouth happens when bacteria spread all over your mouth to your jaw, cheeks, and lips. It is a very obscene condition in appearance and we are sure it is something that you will not want, being that it can make you visibly look quite… unpresentable shall we say. Trench mouth is something we sincerely hope that you avoid – it is very hard to treat.
Heart Attacks
There have been strong parallels drawn between inflamed, plaque-ridden gums and heart attacks. This is mainly because eventually the plaque and bacteria will get into your bloodstream and will pass through your heart – which can lead to a heart attack. Periodontitis has strong connections to heart attacks, as do any gum conditions. Your gums, in Chinese medicine, are an indicator of the health of your entire body, as is your tongue. If you want to fight off heart attacks, start by taking care of your body and brushing your teeth often and regularly. Don’t compromise.
Stroke
Not only can bad oral health lead to heart attacks it can lead to strokes. Strokes can happen when the bacteria from your mouth gets into your blood and spreads into your brain. Strokes are very uncommon in relation to the mouth and your oral health, but they do happen and can happen. If you brush your teeth you fight the chance that you might develop strokes, too. Isn’t that wonderful? All that can be done by just brushing and taking care of your teeth certainly outweighs the consequences of not brushing your teeth, which can, so far, be devastating.
Dementia
Poor gum health increases your risk of developing dementia massively. Poor gum health raises your chances of developing dementia to up to 40%. We definitely recommend that, to avoid developing dementia, that you look after your oral health. It is very easily done and means that you do not potentially have to risk developing a serious disease, whether it be mental or physical. Dementia is something we are sure that you do not want to have to deal with, so please brush your teeth and reduce your chances of developing the condition later on in your life.
Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is a condition somewhat similar to dementia. In fact, it is actually a form of dementia. If you do not brush your teeth, you can develop Alzheimer’s specifically. Conditions like Alzheimer’s are degenerative mental conditions that can, over time, contribute to you losing your memory and any idea of who you are individually. We cannot stress the importance of brushing enough to you, if only just for avoiding Alzheimer’s and dementia. Take care of your oral health and you may just avoid these conditions – you are not guaranteed to, but there is a chance that you can avoid them.
Diabetes
The same bacteria that can contribute to heart attacks and strokes can also degenerate the potency of the insulin in your bloodstream. Diabetes can be caused directly by not brushing or taking care of your teeth – a large amount of research suggests this. Diabetes is something we are certain that you want to avoid, though unfortunately, it is becoming extremely common among young and old the world over. It is a condition that varies in intensity, from type 1 to type 2. Diabetes can be avoided, usually, by leading a healthy lifestyle and watching your diet and sugar intake.
Bronchitis
Bronchitis can be caused by not brushing your teeth. The bacteria that will be swarming inside your mouth, when inhaled, can cause the condition. Bronchitis is usually very easily treated, but it is not a condition that we would think anybody would want, especially at the moment when a deadly lung condition is making its way through the world. Bronchitis combined with the SARS-CoV-19 virus could be fatal. If you take care of your oral health, you can save yourself the trauma and headache of developing a case of severe bronchitis. Bronchitis is not nice, so avoid it as best you can.
COPD
If you are a smoker and do not take care of your oral health, you are increasing the chances of developing illness and sickness massively. If you do not clean your teeth while smoking, you can destroy your gums, and develop a condition like COPD. Your risk of COPD doubles when you smoke and do not brush your teeth. On their own, they are risky. Smoking and brushing your teeth should go hand-in-hand – though with that said we recommend you just quit altogether, smoking is terribly bad for you and the consequences can be massive.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is another condition that you can develop if you do not brush your teeth and you smoke. Pneumonia is actually what proves fatal to patients who suffer from SARS-CoV-19. Pneumonia varies in severity and is not always fatal, but it can be, as the pandemic has proven. Pneumonia is something we are certain you will want to avoid – and you can avoid in part – just take care of your teeth and your gums. Looking after your oral health is very easy and does not take much time at all, but we will come to all of that in due time…
Arthritis
According to a research study, people with gum disease are nearly EIGHT times more likely to develop arthritis than other people. Arthritis can make living your life be absolutely horrible. It can prevent you from being able to get up and do things you would otherwise be able to do. It can keep you bedbound and make you unable to enjoy your life. Arthritis should be avoided at all costs by eating a healthy diet and looking after your gums. Arthritis is something typically experienced by older people, but it can affect the young, too. Arthritis should be avoided.
Issues With Pregnancy
If you have poor oral health and gum disease, you could experience issues with your pregnancy, which is horrible. Delayed conception is one such problem you might experience – if you are pregnant then the bacteria you are harbouring in your mouth can pass onto your child, which can cause problems with delivery. Issues with pregnancy are not common when it comes to your oral health, but they can happen, and they do happen.
Another problem you might experience could be low birth weight. The bacterial infection in your mouth can infect your child, which can lead to complications at birth, and a lower birth rate for the child. A mother’s antibodies will often be found in the baby’s umbilical cord, as well as in the placental blood after deliveries. This means it is more likely that the child will be passed your bacteria. Unfortunately, also, pregnant women are far more prone to gum disease due to hormonal changes that take place while they are pregnant, which means they are more likely to suffer devastating consequences by not brushing their teeth. Brushing your teeth and looking after your gums can potentially save you from this situation.
So How Can I Look After My Gums and Teeth?
Looking after your gums and teeth is so easy, it is shocking more people do not do it. All you need to do to look after your teeth and gums is to brush and floss, then rinse with mouthwash. It does not take long and you need to do it twice a day. You should also visit a dentist at least once a year – be sure to attend regular check-ups with your dentist if they recommend that you have to, though. Looking after your gums and teeth is really that easy!
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article – we also hope to have scared you straight. Look after your gums and your teeth and take care of yourself. The consequences of not looking after them can be absolutely horrific, as this page will have demonstrated in abundance. Thank you for reading, please come back and visit us again soon!