Oral health affects every aspect of your life—body, mind, and soul—but many people take this for granted.

While your eyes are said to be the windows to the soul, your mouth is a window into the health of your entire body and beyond. It can provide important clues to your overall health. Likewise, whatever you eat and drink throughout the day has the potential to disrupt the delicate balance your body must maintain to fight off infection and disease. An oral health care plan with Surf City Dental assures an assessment of the entire mouth—not just teeth, gums, and tongue—whenever a patient comes in for treatment.

Why Regular Dental Visits are Essential to Your Health

The American Dental Association reports that some 100 million Americans fail to visit the dentist once a year, even though regular dental examinations and good oral hygiene can prevent most dental disease.

“Many people will only come in when they’re in pain,” says Dr. Matthew Parr. “Our recommendation of three yearly dental visits goes way beyond preventing cavities. An oral exam can reveal signs of nutritional deficiencies or general infection. Lesions in the mouth or other oral problems our patients report can be the first signs of systemic diseases that can affect the whole body.”

What's the Connection Between Oral Health and Overall Health?

Like other parts of your body, your mouth is teeming with bacteria, many of them harmless. In most cases, daily brushing and flossing, along with your body’s natural defenses, will keep these bacteria under control. But without good oral hygiene, bacteria can reach unhealthy levels and overwhelm your immune system.

Links Between Poor Oral Health and Serious Health Conditions

Medical research suggests that oral health deficiencies can contribute to various diseases and conditions such as:

  • Endocarditis. Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of your heart (endocardium). Endocarditis typically occurs when bacteria or other germs from another part of your body, such as your mouth, spread through your bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in your heart.
  • Cardiovascular disease. Some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries, and stroke might be linked to the inflammation and infections that oral bacteria can cause.
  • Pregnancy and birth. Periodontitis has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight

“At Surf City Dental, our goal is to treat the whole person,” says Dr. Parr,” not just their teeth. We believe that this care philosophy makes a huge impact on our patients’ overall health. This is our goal and what we believe sets us apart from many other dental practices.”