Dental Hygiene Is More Than Clean Teeth

Everyone knows that a dentist in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, is going to be concerned about oral hygiene for the sake of your teeth - but there's more to it than that! Your mouth has a big effect on your health in a lot of different ways, including some ways that might not seem obvious at first. When a dentist encourages proper dental hygiene, they really are encouraging better health for your entire body.

Routine dental cleanings help keep plaque and buildup from becoming harder to manage between visits.

If you haven't been in for an oral checkup lately, more is on the line than just your teeth.

Three Ways Good Oral Hygiene from A Dentist in Rancho Cucamonga Can Improve Your Overall Health

1 - Healthy saliva

Everyone knows your saliva helps you digest food, but what many don't know is that it's also a key part of your body's defense against infection! Saliva is actually full of anti-bacterial microbes which will attack any foreign invaders trying to enter your body via your mouth.

If your saliva becomes weakened, such as by disease, you can even get a form of oral fungal infection called oral thrush.

2 - Spreading bacteria

It's a good thing that your saliva is helping prevent infection because even the cleanest mouth is full of bacteria. It tends to particularly build up in the plaque on your teeth. However, if your mouth gets infected and it goes untreated this bacteria can make its way into your bloodstream and then to almost any other part of your body.

Good oral hygiene is a requirement to keep the bacteria levels in your mouth as low as possible. Otherwise, the infectious materials can easily spread to your nose, throat, heart, even your brain!

When bacteria and inflammation affect the gums, gum health becomes part of the broader oral-health conversation.

3 - An early warning system

Did you know that a dentist is often the first doctor to learn if a patient has diabetes? Or AIDS? There are many diseases whose symptoms first manifest in the mouth. That's why dentists always do such a thorough inspection of your mouth whenever you go for a check-up. They aren't only checking your teeth. They're checking your mouth for signs of any disease that causes oral symptoms.

Regular dental checkups really are an early warning system for diseases.

Get A Thorough Checkup from A Top Dentist in Rancho Cucamonga

Empower Dental Rancho is one of Inland Valley's favorite dentists and a long-time member of the community. Click here to make an appointment!