It’s safe to say that most people brush their teeth, though very few actually devote the time and effort to making it as effective as it could be. It might surprise you to learn some of these downright unexpected reasons to keep brushing properly – many of them just highlight the strong link between your oral and bodily healthy.
Our entire New Albany dental team is dedicated to keeping your mouth healthy, but we can only do it when you’re at our office. The rest of the year it’s up to you, and brushing is the front line of your defence against the health problems that come with not brushing.
Proper brushing should be done twice a day for at least two minutes each session. You need to get each surface of each tooth and should brush with short strokes about the width of each tooth. Hold your brush at a 45 degree angle to your gums so that you’re getting rid of all that nasty stuff around the gumline too.
Using that proper technique is enough to stave off all sorts of problems, including these five surprising ones below!
#1: Fight Dementia
If you’ve ever had an elderly family member fall to the ravages of dementia you know how horrible it can be. The loss of memory, life experience, and awareness can be painful to see and feel. Research has shown that patients who don’t brush their teeth the recommended two times daily are up to 30 percent more likely to suffer from this late-life condition.
Oral bacteria that causes gum disease can end up in the bloodstream, and thereby the brain, resulting in inflammation that greatly increases dementia risks. A healthy mouth has been shown to greatly reduce these risks!
#2: Complications For Expected Mothers
Did you know that your baby can suffer from your bad oral hygiene? Multiple studies have shown that gum disease in expectant mothers will result in lower birth weights, which creates a much higher risk for illnesses and complications for your newborn.
Pregnancy also has a tendency to damage the mother’s teeth as well, so be sure that you’re taking good care of your smile when you’re pregnant – for you and for your baby!
#3: Impotence
A study in Turkey showed that men as young as their 30s suffered from impotence as a result of poor oral health. The study found that 53 percent of men with … issues … had periodontal problems. Only 23 percent of those studied had mouths that were completely healthy.
It all ties back to the health of your cardiovascular system, which is greatly affected by inflammation of any kind. Prolonged problems from gum disease send inflammatory signals all over your body, resulting in all kinds of issues!
#4: Problems Conceiving
As if low birth weights weren’t enough, oral health problems in mothers can just make conceiving harder! A study out of Australia found that there was up to a two month delay in successful conception for women with poor oral health. Combine that with the problems in #3 and you have some difficult times ahead if you’re planning on having a child!
Not only that, but once your baby is conceived the oral bacteria causing problems for you is transmitted to them. Children born from mothers with oral health problems are far more likely to have them too.
#5: It Saves A Lot Of Money
Let’s be frank: poor oral hygiene will eventually lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss. We can treat all of those problems at New Albany Implants, but it can get expensive, time-consuming, and exhausting. You can prevent all of those problems and save a ton of money by taking the time to brush properly and floss.
It might seem like a hassle to take the time to take care of your teeth but it’s nothing compared to the hassle and discomfort that come along with oral health problems. You’ll find yourself much happier later in life when you can show off a bright, beautiful smile full of your natural teeth. All it takes is two minutes twice a day and some floss in the evening – that’s worth it, right?
Worried? It’s Never Too Late To Change
Start down the path to good oral health at our New Albany office – call us today at (812) 945-7645 or request an appointment by filling out our online form. We look forward to seeing you soon!