October Dental Hygiene Awareness Month
When you think of the month of October, it may call up images of crisp mornings and pumpkin spice…everything. But did you know that October has a lot more going on than that?
Why Dental Hygiene is Critical to your Overall Health
Besides helping you keep a lovely smile, good oral hygiene is part of your overall health in ways that many people might not realize. For example, poor oral health has been linked to several serious conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and even dementia. While they may not seem to be related, harmful bacteria in your mouth can easily travel to other parts of your body, causing many kinds of inflammation and disease.
Oral Bacteria do Not Stay Just in Your Mouth
Certain bacteria, such as many that cause gum inflammation, are also known to trigger an autoimmune response in other areas of the body. They are especially harmful to endothelial tissues, which line the inside of blood vessels. Endothelial cells are also closely associated with connective tissues such as many of the tissues inside your mouth.
American Dental Association Recommendations for a Healthier Mouth
The American Dental Association recommends that you your brush your teeth for at least two minutes twice a day with a soft-bristled brush. You should also clean between your teeth at least once a day and use a mouthwash to rinse after brushing.
Without proper care such as daily brushing and regular dental cleanings and checkups, plaque can build up on teeth, leading to tooth decay, tooth loss and or gum disease.
Your Teeth Make Up Less Than Half of your Mouth
The surface of your teeth make up only a portion of your mouth. It is also easy to miss hard-to-reach areas inside your mouth, which can allow harmful bacteria to build up on your teeth, gums, and tongue.
Don’t have time to Brush?
Research and clinical studies have also shown that chewing a sugar free gum for 20 minutes after meals can help increase the amount of saliva in your mouth. Saliva has many beneficial enzymes that destroy bacteria. Saliva also reduces harmful acids and the biofilm secretions produced by damaging oral bacteria.
ASP Cares: Part of Your Foundation for Better Health
At ASP Cares, we understand the benefits of overall health, including good oral health. As a market-leading specialty pharmacy focused on rare conditions and disorders, we believe that everyone should practice good oral hygiene as well as other smart healthy habits such as physician approved exercise and eating a balanced diet.
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ASP Cares: Big enough to serve. Small enough to care.
**This content does not represent medical advice. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any condition. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a qualified medical provider.**