HTCFD – Oral Health Awareness Month

Oral Health Awareness Month: Understanding the Link Between Oral Health and Overall Wellness

Now that flowers are starting to bloom and April is here, our team at HT Complete Family Dentistry  is welcoming spring and celebrating Oral Health Awareness month! This month serves as a reminder of the important connection between our oral health and our overall wellness. Keeping a clean and healthy smile can actually improve your overall well-being. Proper oral hygiene and regular dental care play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy and happy lifestyle. Let’s dive deeper into the link between oral health and overall wellness with the help of Dr. Tinnel and Dr. Prinz.

The Connection Between Oral Health and Overall Wellness: 

Our mouths play several vital roles allowing us to communicate, take in sustenance, and perform life-giving tasks like breathing. Because the mouth serves so many purposes, it is extremely important for us to keep our teeth, gums, and jaws healthy. Numerous studies have highlighted the intricate relationship between oral health and systemic health conditions. For example, in 2012, the American Heart Association shared an article linking diseases like gum disease to cardiovascular disease. Most of us know that poor oral hygiene can lead to various dental issues like cavities, gum disease, and tooth decay, but each of these repercussions can extend past oral health issues into more systematic issues, and that’s why proper dental hygiene and proper alignment with Invisalign from HT Complete Family Dentistry are crucial to your overall health. 

How Do Straight Teeth Affect Your Health?

Most of our patients at HT Complete Family Dentistry come into our office to meet the yearly requirement of regular check-ups and to perfect their smile aesthetics with our Invisalign Clear Aligner treatment. What they don’t always realize is that dental and orthodontic treatment go beyond cosmetics. They both play a crucial role in promoting oral health and preventing a myriad of dental issues. Here are a few ways that dental and orthodontic treatment contribute to your overall health. 

Oral Health and Heart Disease: Just like the study from AHA showcases, the link between oral health and heart disease has gathered a lot of attention in recent years. The bacteria and inflammation that comes with gum disease can enter the bloodstream, and can cause plaque to form in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Gum Disease and Systemic Inflammation: Gum disease is a common oral health issue characterized by inflammation and bacterial infection of the gums. The problem extends past the mouth, though. The inflammation can spread throughout your entire body, causing chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation has been linked to a higher risk of diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other systemic conditions.

Alignment and Bite Correction: At HT Complete Family Dentistry, our expert team provides each of our patients with custom orthodontic treatment plans to fix misalignments and to correct bite issues. Dr. Tinnel and Dr. Prinz can both use clear aligners to straighten your teeth and jaws, promoting a beautiful and healthy smile. Misaligned teeth are actually much harder to keep clean. Little nooks and crannies in between crooked teeth serve as the perfect hiding spot for plaque and bacteria. Hidden plaque can lead to cavities and gum disease, and as the AHA study mentioned, gum disease can even lead to serious systemic complications. 

If you complete Invisalign treatment with our office, you can improve your oral health and significantly reduce your risk of developing cavities and gum disease, and in turn, reduce your risk of developing more severe health complications like cardiovascular disease. 

Improved Oral Hygiene: Straight, properly aligned teeth and jaws can actually help you improve your overall oral hygiene. Our clear aligner treatment create the proper amount of space between teeth, allowing improved accessibility for brushing and flossing, and enhancing your oral hygiene practices. By maintaining good oral hygiene habits and by regularly visiting our office, you can prevent tooth decay, gum inflammation, and other oral health issues.

Prevention of Dental Complications: Misaligned teeth and jaws can lead to dental complications such as uneven tooth wear, jaw pain, oral trauma, halitosis, and difficulty chewing or speaking. When you allow Dr. Tinnel or Dr. Prinz to properly align your teeth with Invisalign,  you are proactively reducing your odds of experiencing any of these unwanted dental complications. Addressing issues like overcrowding, spacing issues, overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites early on can keep your teeth, and your overall health, optimal. 

Enhanced Confidence and Self-Esteem: Our team at HT Complete Family Dentistry  wants to ensure you have a healthy smile, but we know that the physical benefits of dental and orthodontic treatment can also have a profound impact on our patients’ psychological well-being. A healthy, confident smile can boost self-esteem, improve social interactions, and positively influence overall mental health.

As April continues, let’s celebrate Oral Health Awareness Month by recognizing the role good dental and orthodontic care plays in promoting oral health and overall wellness. By prioritizing proper dental care, our patients can enjoy all the benefits of a healthy smile while simultaneously prioritizing their systemic health. Remember, a healthy mouth contributes to a healthier you! Call our office today at  913-962-0036 to schedule your complimentary consultation. We are thrilled to embark on a journey to oral health and overall wellness with you!