By Nicholas Brown
May 19, 2020
Why Is Good Dental Hygiene Important?
Good dental hygiene, also known as good oral hygiene refers to how clean the teeth and mouth is kept to prevent disease.
Why is dental hygiene important and why is it so important to keep your mouth clean and healthy?
The mouth which is also known as the oral cavity is an organ that is connected to our digestive and respiratory system.
The mouth is used for eating, biting, chewing, speaking and swallowing.
With daily brushing and flossing of the teeth the mouth is kept clean and bacteria is under control.
Negligence of these good dental hygiene practices may result in an increase in bacterial growth and activity which causes dental problems such as cavities or gum disease that can impair the ability to eat, speak properly, cause pain, bad breath, loss of teeth .
Research suggests that as a result of poor dental hygiene, bacteria and the inflammation associated with severe gum disease has been linked to the progression of heart disease, diabetes, respiratory problems, stroke, kidney disease, osteoporosis, premature birth or low birth weight in infants .
The presence of diseases like HIV and conditions like diabetes reduce the body’s resistance to infection, making the gums more susceptible to inflammation,resulting in severe oral health problems.
Harmful bacteria present in the saliva travels to the digestive tract when you swallow. This can cause an imbalance in your digestive system, and subsequently digestive problems.
Maintaining good oral hygiene is very important.