Most people understand that maintaining good oral hygiene is an essential part of having good overall health. What we often fail to fully comprehend are the consequences if we don’t.
Some of us may have had personal experiences that had a positive effect on our personal health priorities. But for many of us, we just don’t realise how important good oral and overall hygiene is, until it is way too
late.
What is good oral hygiene?
Good oral hygiene is a state of oral health where your mouth is clean, healthy and free of harmful bacteria that can lead to tooth decay, oral infection and gum disease.
The practice of keeping good oral hygiene habits involves brushing and flossing daily and making regular preventative check up visits to your dentist.
Potential short term effects of poor oral (and general) hygiene
- Dental plaque
- Bad breath
- Food poisoning
- Gastroenteritis
- Itchy skin, rashes, acne and skin infections
- Less immune resistance to colds and flus
- Body odour
- Spreading germs to other people
Potential long term effects of poor oral hygiene
- Increased risk of serious oral inflammation and infection
- Tooth decay, cavities, gum disease and tooth loss
- Depressed immune system – opening the door to other types of disease
- Social/psychological difficulties due to poor personal hygiene & appearance
- Increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, pregnancy complications, dementia (incl. Alzheimer’s disease) and respiratory diseases (incl. pneumonia)
Keep your mouth super clean and hygienic!
It’s hard to imagine that not keeping your mouth hygienically clean could result in so many oral and general health complications as you get older. That’s why it is so important to maintain good oral hygiene throughout your whole life.
And if you are a parent, keeping in mind those long term effects of poor oral hygiene, can help motivate you to keep your kids’ oral health and hygiene on top of the priority list at all times!
