Around 60% of Americans want to be healthier, according to UnitedHealthcare. Popular ways to achieve this include eating well-balanced meals and catching up on proper rest. In order to get started, however, you need to understand how healthy you are right now. What you may not be aware of is that your smile is a good indicator of your current state of health. In fact, your dental health plays a pivotal role in securing your overall health and wellness.
Dental Health and Physical Health
Your mouth is an ideal entry point for all sorts of bacteria, says Dr. Steven Grater of the Pennsylvania Dental Association. He goes on to state that periodontal or gum disease may have links to other diseases like bacterial pneumonia, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and even Alzheimer’s. This is why it is important to nip any dental health issues in the bud by visiting a dental health expert you can trust. You increase your chances of having good dental health by providing your dentist with a complete health history that includes any illnesses and any medication that you may be taking. All those build up to a complete picture the dentist can use to help you navigate your oral health journey.
Dental Health and Socio-Economic Health
The loss of a tooth or several teeth to disease and improper oral care can also damage your socio-economic health. One in three Americans says their poor dental health has cost them several job interviews, according to the American Dental Association. Your oral health can help determine your ability to communicate and that is important in helping you build relationships. Broken teeth and other forms of dental issues can hamper your capacity to create lasting relationships and land economic opportunities. Seeking help from a dentist can help start the recovery process of your socio-economic health by rehabilitating your dental health.
Dental Health and Mental Health
Poor dental health brings a burden of physical illness that’s coupled with the loss of socio-economic opportunities. All of these can contribute to poor mental health. Perception of any dental pain can be effectively exacerbated by depression and anxiety, according to Steve Kisely. Dental health can also be affected by existing mental health disorders like Bulimia Nervosa and Anorexia. It is entirely possible that both feed into each other, wherein poor dental health leads to mental health issues and vice versa. This is why it is important to consult with a trained medical expert to help lessen your risk of falling into this negative development. In the case of mental health, a dentist can be partnered with a mental health expert so they may help you tackle your concerns on both fronts.
It is fascinating that something as simple as the quality of your smile can tell a trained eye so much about your health. So it pays to take time to visit an expert to help you get started to set your dental health on the right path. That way, you’ll be able to secure overall wellness that you’ve always dreamed of having.
