Your oral and overall health are very closely linked. Dr. Tanya Vlacancich takes into account your general health and wellbeing as well as your dental health when planning and providing treatments. Our goal is always to promote your health long-term so that you can enjoy a healthy quality of life as well as a beautiful smile. To learn more about the mouth-body connection in College Point and Whitestone, New York, and schedule your appointment with our experienced dentist, please contact our office at 718-747-0020.
Taking good care of your mouth is incredibly important, and not only for the impact of good oral hygiene on your smile. A healthy mouth helps your keep your teeth as you age and prevent problems such as bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease, but it also helps ward of medical disorders to keep you healthy. On the other side, an unhealthy mouth increases your risk of serious health problems, such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes and preterm labor.
Your mouth is a window into the rest of your body and is often one of the first places where a developing disease can be detected. For example, conditions such as AIDS or diabetes may first become apparent through mouth lesions or other oral problems. According to the Academy of General Dentistry
, more than 90% of all systemic diseases, or diseases which affect your entire body, produce oral signs and symptoms.
Fortunately, your mouth has several defenses against disease and infection. One of the most prominent is your saliva. Saliva contains antibodies that attack viral pathogens and proteins which inhibit the growth of or eliminate disease-causing bacteria and fungus. However, while your saliva helps protect you against some problems, it cannot always keep your mouth healthy on its own. This makes it crucial that you practice good oral hygiene at home, including brushing several times each day and flossing daily. We also strongly recommend that you make and keep all your regular appointments with our dentist. This combination of at-home and professional preventive care helps minimize your risk of developing a problem so that you can continue to enjoy good oral and overall health.
If you have any questions about the mouth-body relationship or to schedule a consultation, please contact our office today.
