Some of the benefits of getting professional teeth cleanings in Toronto are probably pretty obvious. Cleaner teeth, for one! There are other benefits, though —many of which extend far beyond teeth. If you need to be persuaded of the reasons to get your teeth cleaned by your dentist in Toronto (and we hope that you don’t need to be persuaded!), here are some of the reasons to keep in mind.
Getting professional teeth cleanings near you is not a substitute for taking care of your teeth and gums every day at home, but having a dentist near you clean your teeth once or twice a year can ensure your mouth, teeth and gums are free of plaque, tartar and dangerous bacteria.
You’ll decrease your risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke
A study conducted by cardiology researchers at the Veterans General Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan has found that people who had their teeth cleaned professionally at least once every other year were nearly 25% less likely to suffer heart attacks. A 13% decrease in the risk of experiencing a stroke was also found. Having your dentist in Toronto clean your teeth regularly eliminates bacteria that cause inflammation in your gums and chronic inflammation that can spread elsewhere in your body — even causing the hardening of your arteries and increasing your risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke.
You’ll be less likely to suffer from diabetes
In research reported in the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, researchers found that brushing your teeth at least three times daily is associated with an 8% decrease in the risk of developing diabetes. Neglecting oral hygiene to the extent that you develop gum disease, on the other hand, was found to increase the risk of developing diabetes by 9%.
The connection between oral health and a wide range of chronic health conditions (including diabetes) is related to the body’s inflammatory responses. Oral bacteria that cause gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis) trigger an inflammatory response in the soft tissues in your mouth that, in turn, triggers the release of chemicals. When you suffer from chronic inflammation, your immune system becomes dysregulated and less able to fight off disease or heal.
You’ll decrease your risk of developing dementia
A study by the University of Central Lancashire School of Medicine and Dentistry established a link between dementia and gum disease. A connection between oral health and dementia was previously well-understood, but this study found the gum disease-associated bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis in the brains of people suffering from dementia. Researchers investigated whether the bacteria may have a role in the development of Alzheimer’s symptoms such as confusion and memory issues. This role of the Porphyromonas gingivalis bacteria in dementia is a clear example of how bacteria in your mouth can, if not eliminated there, can spread far beyond your mouth and jaw to affect your general health.
Pregnancies will be healthier
Multiple studies have established a connection between gum disease and low birth weights and even premature births. Even before that, though, serious gum disease has been associated with impotence and delayed conception. While the connection between gum disease, fertility, conception and birth weight may not seem obvious, keep in mind that an infection in your gums can spread beyond your jaw by the distribution of bacteria in your bloodstream. Those bacteria trigger myriad other health consequences throughout your body and, in this case, the body of a fetus.
You’ll have fresher breath
Haliosis may seem like a minor issue compared to some of the other things on this list, but bad breath can undermine your confidence and cause you to shrink away from other people and situations. The most common cause of bad breath is the activity of sulphur-producing bacteria on your tongue and in your throat and in the plaque around your teeth.