Staying healthy in the modern era requires a lot more than eating a dietician-recommended diet. It is more than just what goes on to and what is left off a plate. Although a large part of it has to do with what is put into stomachs, health also has a great deal to do with what is or isn’t done as part of daily life. Hence, healthcare practitioners have now turned to lifestyle factors and risks that contribute to ill health.

One system that does certainly not stand apart from the rest of the body is the mouth. People rely on their mouths for survival: to feed their bodies, to communicate with others and for self-expression, among other functions. Maybe it is in part due to some of these basic automatic functions that they tend to take their mouths for granted. And it is only when they experience an undesirable symptom (pain, discomfort, tooth loss, bad breath) that they truly come to appreciate dental health and realise the wisdom behind the call for routine dental check-ups at the dentist Coorparoo.

The wider role of dental health on overall health

Dental authorities in Australia continue the call for awareness of the importance of dental health and the critical role played by at-home oral hygiene practices. A recent research study has revealed that even though 53 percent of Australian adults observed brushing their teeth twice a day, 31 percent admitted to not flossing.

Many adults are still under the erroneous belief that flossing is a voluntary obligation and not part and parcel of what constitutes dentist-approved guidelines for cleaning teeth. The Australian Dental Association advises that almost half of the tooth’s surfaces are covered in the spaces in between teeth and that skipping out on flossing means leaving these large spaces vulnerable to the erosion of bad bacteria, tooth decay and gum disease.

The decline in dental health will inevitably be felt in the wider context of health. Teeth make it possible to bite and chew food for ease of digestion. Tooth loss or dental pain make it a challenge to eat, raising the risks of nutritional deficiencies which have an adverse impact on the body’s ability to function.

Next to this is the concern of gum deterioration, which opens up another risk factor to physical health. The prevalence of gum problems raises the question of the imbalance on the side of bad bacteria in the mouth which can reach the bloodstream, triggering complications with cardiovascular health. It is only when seeing the role played by dental health in relation to the whole body that people can begin to appreciate the lifelong need to protect teeth and gums.

Many continue to marvel at the way the human body works – how every organism has its own vital part to play as well as contribute to the overall functioning of the body. Perhaps because of this, many are now being asked to be more conscious of their habits and behaviours and take those steps that secure pro-health states and minimise poor health conditions.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.