The importance of dental health

Pop quiz:
How important is dental health to your overall health?

Answer:
Very.

The condition of your mouth is vital to your overall health. If we start with the basics, people with "bad" teeth or no teeth at all, can't eat a lot of different foods needed for good nutrition. This leads to health issues and can turn into severe health problems. Beyond the basics, bacteria that is in your mouth could enter your blood stream and cause problems with your heart.

You can have oral cancer (tongue, palate, gum) and not know it until it's too late, while a dentist may be able to detect it in the earliest stages. This can be assessed at your regular checkup.

Pregnant women, in particular, should be careful with their oral health. A recent study found that pregnant women with gum disease were at higher risk of developing high blood pressure and preeclampsia, a condition that can lead to very serious consequences - even death.

So - how important is your dental health?

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