Visiting the dentist for regular dental checkups is an easy way to improve not only your oral health, but also your overall health. Like your regular physician, your dentist should be a part of your overall wellness regimen.  Here are three reasons how the dentist can help you improve your well-being.

Preventive dental care is important

When you go to your dentist for a routine checkup, they (or a dental hygienist) will clean your teeth.  Having your teeth cleaned removes tartar buildup that can only be removed by a dental professional, which prevents tooth decay, gum disease and other oral health issues that can result from excess tartar.

In addition to a cleaning, the dentist will look for any oral health issues that require treatment. If dental issues go untreated, they can get worse, more painful, more expensive to treat and even lead to tooth loss. In most cases, the earlier you treat dental issues, the better the outcome.

Oral health is connected to your overall health

Several studies show a link between oral health and the rest of the body. Research indicates that gum disease can increase your risk for many other diseases including heart disease, diabetes, stroke and some types of cancer.¹ Some studies suggest that the same bacteria that causes gum disease can enter the bloodstream and cause other disease in the body.  More recent research suggests that inflammation in the body may be responsible for the link between gum disease and other diseases.

Regular preventive dental care can help, prevent, treat or even reverse gum disease in its early stages. Visiting the dentist regularly to prevent or manage gum disease can lower your risk for many other health conditions.

The dentist can detect 120 diseases during an exam

In addition to detecting oral health issues that require dental treatment, the dentist can also detect 120 diseases that have symptoms that are present in the mouth.²  Some common diseases that can be discovered in the mouth include diabetes, osteoporosis, acid reflux, heart disease, kidney disease, HIV, Lupus and oral cancer. The dentist plays a crucial role in the early detection of many serious conditions and can help improve the overall prognosis.

The dentist can help you maintain a healthy smile and improve your overall health. The mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body, and practicing good oral health habits, including brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist, can greatly benefit the rest of your body.  Use our “Find a Provider” search tool to find a network dentist and schedule your next dental appointment.

¹ http://perio.org/consumer/gum-disease-and-other-diseases

² U.S. Surgeon General Report on Oral Health, Chapter 3: Diseases and Disorders, 2000