How important is it to have a health assessment? Does the quality of one’s oral health affect overall health? This article will shed some light on this myth. After reading this article, please read more about how dental care is affecting your general health.
How oral health is a window to general health
You may have heard about the connection between oral health and general health. Problems in your mouth may also affect other parts of your body. Many factors connect oral health to overall health.
For example, if a patient has periodontal disease, the gum disease can play a role in the development in other more severe illnesses. Gum disease is bad news for your oral health and can result in tooth loss, but for overall health, it can lead 
to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases.
Also, certain medications can affect saliva flow in the mouth. The lack of saliva can cause many issues in the mouth. However, having a limited supply of saliva can also lead to acid build up in the mouth. This will also limit the protection against harmful bacteria and pathogens in the mouth, leading to disease and infection.
Taking care of oral health
The protection of oral health is vital to general health. Brushing and flossing is the first line of defense to protect your oral health. Having good oral hygiene habits at home will help protect your oral health. Also, periodical visits to a dentist, at least once a year, will ensure that your oral health will remain at an optimal level. A healthy diet will also contribute to a healthy mouth. Lifestyle habits such as smoking cause damage to teeth and gums, and should be avoided.
Getting a health assessment
It is essential to get a health assessment periodically. In line with this, taking care of your teeth and gums is important to make sure that your oral health does not cause any complications for the other parts of your body. Having regular dental check-ups will enable your dentist to detect any oral diseases that may be developing and administer prompt treatment.
On top of this, having a health assessment to monitor your overall health is equally as important. This becomes more crucial if your dentist has warned you of an oral issue that has started to develop. If your family has a history of certain medical conditions, you should also be encouraged to have regular health assessments. Most doctors and medical centers have annual health assessments for this purpose.
What you can do
If you want to make sure that both your general health and oral health status stays at their best, it is a good idea to invest in health assessments. These assessments will tell you if there is something you need to worry about or not. Doctors will also advise you on the best way to treat any issues you have.
Bear in mind that although oral health does not always cause issues with general health, it is a good idea to keep it in check so that the risk factor will be put to a minimum.
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