Keep Your Immune System Strong by Staying in Great Oral Health

The care you give your teeth and gums can make a big difference for your overall health. Practicing excellent oral hygiene can help you avoid inflammation and infections that can strain your immune system and may leave you more vulnerable to serious health problems like diabetes and dangerous secondary infections like sepsis. Here’s a quick look at how proper dental care can help you stay healthy as well as a few tips for how you should clean your teeth every day.

How Does My Oral Health Affect My Overall Health?

Most oral health problems are caused by infectious bacteria that feed on the simple sugars found in many popular foods and beverages like candy, soda, and processed snacks. If these germs manage to infect a tooth or the gums (causing a cavity or gum disease, respectively), they can often spread to other parts of the mouth or even other areas of the body, resulting in destructive secondary infections like sepsis or possibly pneumonia.

Frequently needing to fight these infections can put unnecessary stress on the immune and endocrine systems. This may increase your likelihood of overall health issues like diabetes, which can make it even harder for your body to heal, fight infections, and control inflammation.

How Can I Practice Excellent Oral Hygiene?

To keep your teeth clean and healthy for life, you’ll need to adhere to a strict regimen of daily oral hygiene that includes:

• Brushing: Brush at least twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed, to eliminate sugary residues and plaque. Take care to clean your teeth using a soft-bristled brush and gentle, circular strokes.
• Flossing: This habit is every bit as important for your oral health as brushing since it cleans plaque and sugary residues from the spaces between the teeth where a brush cannot reach. Floss at least once a day, but it’s ideal to do so after each meal.
• Antibacterial mouthwash: It’s a great idea to rinse your mouth with a product like Scope or Listerine to kill harmful oral bacteria and keep your breath fresh.

You’ll also need to keep up with regular dental appointments so your dentist can monitor your oral health and address problems in their early stages. Consulting with your oral health professional can help you understand how to keep your mouth clean and infection-free.

About the Author

Dr. L.J. Adam earned his dental degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and furthers his education with postdoctoral coursework. He is proud to be a member of the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the Pennsylvania Dental Association. His office in Worthington offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. To schedule your next checkup, contact the office online or dial (724) 297-3446.