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The Connection Between Oral Health and Medical Health

Your trip to the dentist is a crucial investment in your overall health.

If you’re looking at your scheduled dental check-up, and wondering whether to skip it, consider this: your oral health affects your overall health, and poor oral health has been linked to everything from diabetes to heart disease to strokes.


You know that good oral health is what allows you to smile, laugh, chew, swallow, taste and express your emotions through facial expressions, but did you know that without good oral health, you’re at risk of a whole host of other potential diseases?


Your trip to the dentist every six months can help detect issues like cavities and gum disease before they get too serious. With x-rays, dentists can find problems, like bone loss, beneath the surface. Your dentist may be able to explain why you are experiencing facial pain, or helping you to understand why the left side of your mouth appears to be drooping. A dentist can also detect signs of oral cancer and handle buildups of plaque that even the most diligent brusher may have missed.


Your mouth is a gateway to the rest of your body

Bacteria can enter your body through your mouth, which serves as an entry point for your digestive and respiratory systems. Ordinarily, your routines of daily flossing and brushing, as well as your body’s natural defense systems, are enough to keep bacteria at bay. But trips to the dentist can reveal when bacteria have penetrated your natural defenses, potentially causing issues such as tooth decay or gum disease.


This can happen even if you’re regularly flossing and brushing. Having poor oral health can be genetic, and at times it can be an unintended side effect of a medication you’re taking. Certain medications, such as antidepressants, antihistamines and painkillers, can cause xerostomia or dry mouth. Without the flow of saliva to handle acids produced by bacteria, you may be more vulnerable to disease.


Plus, professional dental cleanings are the only way to remove buildups of tartar, which can trap bacteria along your gums.


Conditions that may be improved through better oral health

Researchers have found that treating gum disease can help with conditions like diabetes, heart disease and strokes. If you’re pregnant, or thinking about becoming pregnant, don’t skip those dental cleanings! Pregnancy can cause hormonal changes in the body that can affect your oral health. Your dentist will be able to advise you on the best way to protect your baby’s health during pregnancy.


Some studies show that routine dental care can help your lungs and bloodstream by helping to reduce bacteria that can result in certain conditions with your lungs and heart.


Certain diseases can also make you more vulnerable to oral disease. People with diabetes, HIV/AIDS, eating disorders, certain cancers, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis can all benefit from regular dental checkups.


Protect your health

Don’t skip those checkups! That’s the most effective way to detect problems before they get serious. Always brush and floss regularly, avoid smoking, and replace your toothbrush when the bristles get worn, advises the American Dental Association.


And if you ever experience any sudden pain in your mouth, call your dentist. Oral health is deeply connected to your overall health, and taking care of your teeth means taking care of your health. Schedule your regular checkup today!

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Please remember that this is a dental discount plan. You are responsible for any and all charges incurred by you and/or your dependents. UFT Direct Access will not reimburse you or your dentist for any of these charges. Please discuss your treatment plan and charges with your dentist prior to starting any work. You should exercise the same care and apply the same criteria in selecting a participating dentist that you would when selecting a non-participating dentist.

Disclosure: This discount plan is not insurance and is not intended as a substitute for insurance. The plan does not meet minimum creditable coverage requirements under state or federal law and is not a qualified Health Plan under the Affordable Care Act. The plan provides discounts at participating providers on certain dental services. The range of discounts will vary depending on the type of provider and the dental services received. Members are obligated to pay the provider the entire amount of the discounted rate for services at the point of service. The plan does not pay providers for services provided to members. The discount plan organization is SIDS, 303 Merrick Road, Ste. 300, Lynbrook, NY, 11563, 866-679-7437, info@uftdirectaccess.com. Service Area: This plan is only available to residents of New Jersey And New York, and is not currently available to residents of any other jurisdiction. Participating providers and discounted fees are subject to change without notice and are not available in all areas. The discount plan organization has no liability for providing or guaranteeing dental services or the quality of dental services rendered. Membership and activation fees apply. The plan is governed by the member agreement provided at activation.

 

This web site is provided for information and education purposes only. No doctor/patient relationship is established by your use of this site. No diagnosis or treatment is being provided. The information contained here should be used in consultation with a doctor of your choice. No guarantees or warranties are made regarding any of the information contained within this web site. This web site is not intended to offer specific medical, dental or surgical advice to anyone. Further, this website and SIDS take no responsibility for web sites hyper-linked To and or by this site and such hyperlinking does not imply any relationships or endorsements of the linked sites.

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