Tooth decay does more damage than simply breaking down your teeth. It can lead to infections that can spread to the other parts of the body, it can increase your risk of heart disease and it can weaken your immune system. Good oral hygiene and biannual trips to the dentist are essential when it comes to keeping tooth decay away.
Tooth decay is caused by the acids created by bacteria in the mouth. These microorganisms coat teeth with a sticky film called plaque that is made up of acids that eat away at teeth. Plaque on teeth leads to decay, and it leads to gum disease when it gets beneath the gums. Here’s how teeth rotting away weakens your body:
Having poor oral hygiene leads to bacteria building up in the mouth. These germs can make their way into the bloodstream, and from there, any other part of the body. This weakens the immune system, leading to fatigue and an increased risk of falling ill.
Studies have linked the type of bacteria that lead to periodontal disease and tooth decay to heart disease. As is the case with gum disease, heart disease is caused by plaque build-up. The condition occurs when plaque inside arteries builds up to the point it begins to disrupts or blocks blood flow, potentially causing a heart attack.
Health conditions like diabetes, osteoporosis and HIV/AIDS can be worsened by unhealthy levels of bacteria in the mouth. The bacteria invasion leads to a weakened immune system, and that makes many chronic conditions worse. Improving oral hygiene can help to reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease weakening the immune system.
Tooth decay ruins the appearance of teeth and that can lead to a person being reluctant to smile due to fears of being judged for the appearance of their teeth. It is a well-founded fear given the fact one of the first things people notice during social interactions is the appearance of a person’s smile.
Tooth decay often starts as a small cavity developing on a tooth. The cavity expands until it reaches the pulp chamber when left untreated. The pulp chamber is the inner chamber of a tooth and it contains connective tissues, blood vessels and nerves. The pulp chamber is sealed off from the rest of a tooth, but it can be opened up by decay or damage to the tooth.
Bacteria will eventually get to exposed soft tissues in the pulp chamber when the decay is left untreated. This leads to an infection, which leads to excruciating toothaches. A tooth infection can spread to areas like the brain where it can be life-threatening.
Call or visit our Des Plaines clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist if you have decayed teeth that need to be treated.
Request an appointment here: https://www.healthydentalcenter.com or call Healthy Dental Center at (847) 390-5800 for an appointment in our Des Plaines office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Tooth Decay in Des Plaines, IL.
A smile makeover allows you to address concerns you may have with your smile, including but not limited to damaged teeth, stained teeth, missing teeth, short teeth, misalignments of the teeth and jaw, and a gummy smile. This review discusses the benefits of a smile makeover.The most notable benefits of getting a smile makeover include…
Your dentist will give you smile makeover aftercare instructions. These care practices will extend the effects of your procedure or procedures. They can even help improve your oral health. If you want to know what to do and what not after your smile makeover, here are the details.A teeth bleaching or whitening treatment can brighten…
An emergency dentist is a particular type of dental professional who undergoes additional education and training to learn how to deal with urgent and emergency situations. While emergency dentists do learn how to provide general dentistry care, they also learn how to think and act on the spot when an emergency happens. In most cases,…
If you want to improve your smile’s appearance, a smile makeover is a way to go. It is advisable to prepare adequately for this procedure because it increases the desired outcome. Since there are many makeover choices, it is better to take the dentist’s advice and work with the treatment plan that they recommend.The procedures…
