How Poor Oral Hygiene Can Affect Your Body

Most people know that poor oral hygiene can lead to cavities, gum disease and other dental problems. However, poor oral hygiene not only affects your teeth and gums, but it also affects your overall health. Studies have shown that people who have gum disease are twice as likely to develop coronary artery disease. Bacteria present in an abscessed cavity can also enter the bloodstream and spread infection to the lungs or heart.

Type 2 diabetes has also been linked with poor dental hygiene. There was a study done in 2007 on pre-diabetic rats. The study showed that the rats with periodontal disease were more likely to develop full-blown diabetes.

Pregnant women who have gum disease are more likely to give birth prematurely. In a 2011 study published in the American Journal Of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 226 pregnant women who had been diagnosed with periodontal disease were asked to use antibacterial mouthwash every day. The results of the study showed that the women were 75 percent less likely to give birth prematurely.

Furthermore, gum disease can make it harder for a woman to get pregnant. There was a study that compared two groups of women who were trying to conceive. One group of women had gum disease. The women who had gum disease took an average of seven months to conceive, but the other group took five months to conceive. Researchers believed that the inflammation that resulted from gum disease made it harder for the women to get pregnant.

However If you take good care of your teeth and gums, then you will significantly reduce your chances of developing many serious health problems.

sources: http://cmr.asm.org/content/13/4/547.long 

Caring for Cavities

Caring for cavities can be easy and provide great relief to those seeking better oral health. Cavities are holes in the teeth that are caused by tooth decay. People with diets high in both sugar and starches are at greater risk for developing cavities. There are over 500 types of bacteria present in the mouth. Bacteria can become harmful if they combine with sugar/starches and form plaque.

When plaque starts, it begins the process of converting sugar into acidic byproduct. This will cause enamel to become subject to damage. Cavities typically manifest when plaque settles into the fissures and pits of the teeth. Cavities can also occur at the gum line. When a cavity penetrates to the soft dentin layer of the tooth, most people begin to notice pain.

Luckily, there is hope for those who care properly for cavities. By  understanding  s. mutans and tooth decay, you can prevent and even reverse cavities. First I will begin  with a few tips on how to slow down a cavity.

1. Keep Up With Proper Dental Hygiene

Brush, floss, and use mouthwash daily to maintain proper hygiene. Floss in the morning, after breakfast, and at night before going to bed. Many dental professionals recommend flossing once a day to deter the growth of s. mutans and other bacteria. Mouthwash is also very useful in helping slow down a cavity. To get the most from mouthwash, it is best to purchase a fluoride containing brand. If possible, use mouthwash right before you go to sleep. This will allow the mouthwash to better absorb and as a result, it will more effectively strengthen and protect enamel.

2. Use Fluoride

Fluoride is ordinarily found in toothpaste and in some tap waters. Fluoride can also be found in some meat, fish and eggs. Fluoride has the potential to reverse cavity growth. If it is caught in the early stages of the problem, a cavity treated with fluoride can do a complete 180°. Assuming that you want to slow cavity growth and protect teeth from decay, it is particularly useful to apply fluoride on a daily basis. 
 
3. Reduce the Intake of Sugary Foods

Junk foods and soda drinks should be greatly reduced to prevent further tooth decay. People with a sweet tooth should brush lightly as soon as possible after eating. If you chew gum, select a gum with xylitol. Xylitol is particularly effective at creating an environment in which s. mutans and other bacteria cannot survive. This chemical compound is immensely effective in slowing cavity development.
* for more information on xylitol, check out a previous post, benefits of xylitol.  

4. Chew Licorice Root

Licorice root is a natural antimicrobial, and it inhibits bad bacteria from forming in the mouth. Many people also like the taste of licorice root, which can be purchased at a health food store.

Caring for cavities is easy! Caring for cavities can be simple with proper knowledge. Follow these tips and slow down cavity formation in the mouth. For cash-strapped families, the extra time is desirable.