Five Big Reasons You Should Care About Dental Health
For many people, worrying about dental health is a secondary concern, especially since fewer and fewer Americans have or can afford dental insurance. Even if you take great care of your teeth, seeing a dentist a few times a year for a checkup and cleaning is just as important as getting any other kind of preventative health care. Still not convinced? There are some pretty important reasons that further reinforce why you should invest in taking care of your teeth.
These Steps include:
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Gum disease can increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke
Studies have shown that there is a definitive link between diseases of the gums, caused by poor oral hygiene, and heart attacks and strokes. Why put your circulatory system at unnecessary risk? Take the time to get a checkup to make sure you’re avoiding gum disease.
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Lack of dental care could result in an unnoticed oral cancer
Oral cancers kill tens of thousands of people each year, but you won’t be getting screened for this potentially fatal illness if you don’t see a dentist.
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Tooth loss can occur
Besides being unattractive and requiring a hefty investment in artificial replacement, losing teeth can cause you difficulties in eating or living normally. You may become self-conscious and depressed if you’re particularly put off by your new toothless appearance as well. Take care of your teeth before they ever get carious, and you’ll be doing yourself a big favor.
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Regular dental health care can prevent bigger problems
You may not have any dental problems right now, but that doesn’t mean you won’t down the road. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause infections and crowd other teeth, while weakened teeth can break more easily and lead to particularly painful trips to the dentist.
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Yellowed and unhealthy teeth make you look older
If nothing else, think about your appearance when it comes to dental health care. Most people want to look and feel their best they can, and part of that is ensuring that their teeth stay healthy, white, and intact for as long as possible.
Most of all, remember that good dental care isn’t just about caring for your teeth and gums—it’s about caring for your whole body, as poor dental care can take a big toll on the rest of you, even if it initially seems they are unrelated.
