Did you know that your oral health can have a big effect on your overall health and well-being? Keeping your mouth healthy can help strengthen your immune system, and ensure that you can protect yourself against common viruses and illnesses. How are your immune system and oral health related? Find out below in this blog from Dodds Dental.
Poor Oral Health Can Put More Strain On Your Immune System
Your immune system is responsible both for preventing infection by viruses and bacteria, and for fighting back against these infections when they enter your body. And if you are not taking care of your mouth properly, your body’s ability to fight back against common illnesses may be compromised.
Why? It makes sense if you think about it. Your immune system can only make a certain amount of cells like antibodies and white blood cells. So if it’s working hard to defend against infections and attack bacteria in your mouth, it won’t have the same ability to do so elsewhere in your body.
If you don’t brush and floss properly and take care of your oral health, your mouth will be overwhelmed by oral bacteria. These bacteria will attack your gums, eventually causing gum disease. In addition, they will excrete acid which can wear away at your teeth, which can cause deep cavities or even tooth infections.
If your body must send immune cells to your mouth to deal with these oral health issues, it simply won’t be able to send as many immune cells to other parts of your body, weakening your overall immune response.
Keeping Your Mouth Healthy Enhances Your Immune Performance
Wondering what you can do to keep your mouth healthy and boost immune performance? Just follow these tips for proper oral hygiene.
- Brush twice a day for two minutes – Proper brushing is essential for keeping your teeth healthy. Ideally, you should brush once in the morning after you wake up, and once at night before you go to bed. This will remove the maximum amount of bacteria.
- Floss once a day – You can floss at any time. Use the proper technique, and make sure you’re thorough and remove plaque, bacteria, and food debris from between your teeth.
- Consider using mouthwash after meals – Mouthwash is no substitute for brushing and flossing, but it can kill oral bacteria and keep your breath fresh. Using it after meals can also help eliminate food particles that bacteria feed on and help you avoid oral infections with proper immunity.
- Reduce your sugar intake – A healthy diet low in sugar and starches and high in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and lean meats will help keep your mouth (and body) healthy.
- See Dodds Dental for six-month teeth cleanings – Preventive care such as cleanings and oral exams help remove bacteria-filled plaque and tartar, and allow Dr. Dustin and Dr. Emily Dodds to track your oral health and offer tips on how you can care for your teeth and gums more effectively.
Keep Your Mouth And Your Immune System Healthy With Proper Oral Care
Want to keep your immune system healthy? Overdue for a teeth cleaning in Long Beach? Dodds Dental is here to help. Contact us online or give us a call at (562) 439-0754 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Emily or Dr. Dustin Dodds, and get the care you need right away.
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