Having suitable oral hygiene is key for strong teeth and quality mouth health, but not cleaning your teeth the right way can actually affect your chances of even getting a degenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's or dementia. As extreme as this may sound it's true and there is evidence from studies.

Poor oral hygiene can be linked to a degenerative disease

Gum disease is a prime factor of poor oral hygiene and this can lead to having dramatic effects on developing a risk factor for various diseases such as Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, respiratory infections, and even diabetic complications. Some studies have actually suggested the risk is higher when gum (periodontal) disease persists for ten or more years.

Alzheimer: A study from Science Advances details a type of bacteria associated with gum disease called Porphyromonas gingivalis has been found in the brains of patients who suffer from Alzheimer's disease. This bacteria can enter the brain through either bloodstreams or nerve channels in the head.

Cardiovascular Disease: In other words, it's heart disease, the bacteria that is from inflammation of the gums or periodontal disease can travel in the arteries of the heart and cause atherosclerosis, this is when your arteries hardened, plaque develops on the inner walls of arteries to the point that it's thick enough to decrease or even block blood flow through the body causing major risk for heart attack and strokes.

Respiratory Infections: It has been warned that periodontal disease can lead to infections in the lungs, such as pneumonia. The connection may not be that exact, but think about breathing bacteria for a long period of time, every breath goes to your lungs.

Diabetic Complications: If you have diabetes, your symptoms can be worse from the inflammation of the gum tissue and periodontal disease since it makes it harder to control your blood sugar.

It may sound extreme the causes of poor oral hygiene can cause, but all these are facts, good oral hygiene isn't only to keep your teeth white, but also helps to have healthy gums and overall optimal healthy mouth and prevent serious major illness.

Always practice healthy habits when taking care of your teeth and mouth, brush after every meal, floss, use a mouth rinse, having a fresh breath is nice but it's nicer to have a healthy mouth, it's easy and become part of your routine easily. Visit your dentists once a year at least to follow up and prevent any happening you might not easily be aware of that is going on in your teeth, all this, as extreme as it sounds, but can save your life from degenerative diseases.

What is Gum (Periodontal) Disease?

It may be hard to believe that our mouths are home to complex ecosystems of bacteria when gum disease starts, this first phase is called gingivitis this is when the gums start to swell up to form the accumulation of bacterial plaque on the teeth surface.

If the first phase of gingivitis is left untreated in time it can evolve on becoming a "sub-gingival" form between teeth and gums which are filled with bacteria. At this stage, gingivitis converts into periodontitis and it is almost impossible to get rid of the bacteria but only control its growth.

Sounds scary huh? Having good oral hygiene is very important to prevent these types of diseases to evolve into something scarier, brushing twice a day for at least 2 minutes each, flossing regularly and using mouthwash helps a lot, and of course, visiting the dentist at least once a year.

There are various simple ways to prevent having poor oral health and to always have a healthy happy smile, here are some good oral hygiene tips.

Brush and Floss: Teeth cleaning become such a daily routine that it becomes so usual to do, and this sometimes makes us forget to do it or to do it well, brushing is common but it must be twice a day and at least for 2 minutes, up and down, side to side. At the end of the day, floss to get those tiny pieces of food in between your teeth and finish up with mouthwash. Use interdental brushes if you have bridges, implants, or wide spaces between your teeth.

Regular Dental Checkups: Your dentists will detect bacteria-harboring plaque and the first signs of periodontal disease. Doing regular check-ups at least once every 6 months is beneficial for oral health.
Get treatment at the first signs of Gum Disease: The signs are very obvious, swollen, bleeding gums; pockets of puss; and when gums are pulled away from the teeth is the most dramatic signs of periodontal disease.
Healthy diet: Eating healthy is not just beneficial for having a good body, but benefits your oral health eating vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and diets high in omega/3 fatty which is found in fish, there is evidence this helps reduce the risk of gum disease.
Having suitable care for your teeth and oral hygiene is prevention for many types of unfortunate cases of infection or in worst cases, diseases. Make sure to maintain a healthy routine every day by brushing, flossing, and washing.

Common Oral Hygiene Practices

Many people have common poor oral hygiene mistakes, making the practice useless when it should benefit your teeth and gums. So yeah brushing your teeth up and down, side to side should free us from cavities and other oral diseases, well... No. Sadly more than 80% of adults develop at least one cavity past their thirties.

So what are people doing wrong that they are not completely freeing many from dental issues?

1. Only brushing in the morning: Many are compelled that brushing their teeth in the morning is enough since they head up to work and say good morning to everyone, not worrying about having the typical "morning breath" going throughout their day, then arriving home and go to bed without even a mouth rinse.
Imagine all the food consumed sitting between your teeth at night for at least 8 hours, forming bacteria and a by-product that slowly but if daily decays your teeth. 

2. Not spending enough time brushing: Just because you brushed your teeth does not mean you cleaned them, brushing for at least 2 minutes really does help your mouth be free from plaque forming, cavities, and gum inflammation.
3. Only seeing the dentist when in pain: In many cases, people go running to the dentist until they can't stand a toothache, sadly most of these times the situation they could have avoided with a regular dentist visit turns into an issue that will be expensive to repair and sometimes to losing some teeth.

Dental Tips for optimal Oral Hygiene

Visit your dentist, at least once a year. Sani Dental Group offers prevention care treatments such as regular teeth cleaning, deep cleaning, scaling, and root planing. Also the latest technology in laser cleaning. 

If you are looking for more serious treatments such as an extraction, crowns, implants, or other major dental procedures our clinic has more than 30 dentists specialized in various complex procedures.

Visit us on our Page to know more about Sani Dental Group and our accessible prices in both of our destinations, in Los Algodones and Playa del Carmen.