Preventive Dentistry Helps Your Smile and Your Overall Health

Preventive dentistry is an important aspect of your oral and overall health as the two go hand-in-hand. It’s estimated, only 62 percent of adults 18 to 64 years of age have visited the dentist in the past year, while 83 percent of children 2 to 17 years of age have visited the dentist in the last year. As a result, there is still a large percentage of children and adults who are placing their oral and overall health at risk by not visiting the dentist in Valparaiso regularly. Without regular cleanings and checkups, you open the door for the development of gum disease. Once gum disease develops, it can negatively impact your oral and overall health.

The Link Between Oral and Overall Health

Gum disease is caused by an infection that develops from bacteria found in an accumulation of plaque and tartar around the gum lines. While the infection is easily treatable without causing any long-term effects in the early stages, many don’t visit the dentist regularly. As a result, gum disease goes untreated, allowing it to progress to the later stages. Once gum disease has reached the later stages, serious damage is done to the teeth and gums, which ultimately leads to tooth loss.

However, the teeth and gums aren’t the only areas to be impacted. The bacteria that cause gum disease can enter the bloodstream. Once the bacteria enter the bloodstream, it can travel to the heart. As this occurs, it causes cardiovascular disease to develop, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. In addition, the bacteria can travel to the lungs, causing serious respiratory infections. Recent evidence also shows that bacteria can enter the brain, potentially causing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Protecting Your Oral and Overall Health

To protect your oral and overall health, you need to practice proper oral hygiene and visit your dentist’s office in Valparaiso twice a year. With regular cleanings, we will remove the accumulation of plaque and tartar from the gum line to prevent gum disease from developing. Should gum disease be present, we are able to detect the infection sooner to provide the appropriate treatment. As a result, the infection won’t spread to the later stages, protecting your smile and overall health.

In addition to professional cleaning, we also perform regular checkups. Dental checkups allow us to detect potential areas of concern before they become a bigger problem. For example, we can provide preventive treatments, like dental sealants to prevent the development of cavities. However, should a cavity develop, we will detect the cavity while it is still small through the checkup. As a result, only a simple filling will be needed, whereas, if the cavity goes untreated for some time, a root canal or possible extraction may be required.

Your Family Dentist in Valparaiso

As your family dentist in Valparaiso, we want to see your teeth, gums, and entire body stay as healthy as possible. With your overall health directly impacted by your oral health, you need to see your dentist twice a year for cleanings and checkups. Don’t put your health at risk. Call today for an appointment.