Just like any other body part, our mouth also contains tons of bacteria which are harmless in most cases and do not affect the functioning of other body parts. But if you do not care for your oral health, these bacteria can increase and harm your overall health. 

To understand the connection between dental hygiene and oral health, let us see what these terms actually mean. Oral health can be defined as the penetrative care by which you can avoid oral health issues like bad breath, bleeding gums, cavities, etc.

On the other hand, dental hygiene can be defined as a parameter that can affect your whole-body health or is linked to overall health. That makes it even more important to take care of your dental hygiene. There are many reasons, like unhealthy eating habits, poor oral care products, and other internal factors that affect your dental health, which in turn harm your overall health. 

What effect does bad dental hygiene have on oral health?

Bad dental hygiene is one of the most common problems that many people suffer from. The term dental hygiene, as we all know, is related to taking care of oral health, which, when not taken care of properly, can affect the whole body. 

Many diseases and oral health problems can affect your entire health, including the roots, gums, and overall appearance of your teeth. Your dental hygiene is like a window to your overall health. This means if your teeth are in good condition, your overall health will be in check too. 

Let’s check some conditions that might be linked to bad oral health: 

• Pneumonia: If certain bacterias increase in huge quantities in your mouth, there is a higher possibility that these germs and bacteria can be pulled into your lungs while breathing, which can cause multiple respiratory diseases, including pneumonia.

• Heart-related issues: When you don’t follow a proper brushing routine, it can cause cavities, sore gums, and many other infections, which lead to inflammation clogging your arteries. These infections and bacteria can also increase the chances of stroke. 
• Complications in birth: Multiple studies suggest that Periodontitis, a gum-related disease, has a harmful impact on a child’s birth and can also lead to premature delivery. 

How can you take care of your oral health, including overall health?

Here are a few easy steps which will act as a precautionary measure to ensure that your oral and dental hygiene is on the right track:

• Brush your teeth for two minutes: Brushing your teeth twice daily for two minutes can keep many germs at bay. 
• Remember to floss daily: People often brush their teeth twice a day but forget to floss, which can accumulate tiny food particles between their teeth.
• Avoid sugary food: Many sugary and refined foods harm oral health. But, again, eating such food within a limit followed by a proper oral care routine does not threaten your overall health. 
• Use good quality mouthwash: Using good quality mouthwash is a must to remove unwanted food particles from your mouth after eating.
• Please get a new toothbrush after three months: Using the same toothbrush for more than three months is not good; therefore, before you feel your tooth is too worn off, you must change it.
• Fix a meeting with your dentist: Visiting your dentist frequently is a great way to learn more about your oral health, and it will also keep you away from gum infections and diseases.

So, these are some of the ways in which you can keep your dental hygiene and oral health in check. Now that you know that infections and germs in your mouth can affect your whole body, you must take active steps in doing the needful.