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How dental health relates to overall wellbeing

It is surprising how many people disregard the important role of the mouth in keeping the body healthy. Without the function of teeth to grind food down into digestible pieces, people would be unable to feed their body. Without adequate nutrition, the body would have no energy to function properly and is unable to protect and repair against illnesses or injuries.

But it is not only the disastrous consequences to the physical body that is a top concern. Nutrition is also closely tied to mental wellbeing too as the brain, like any other organ in the body, relies on nutrients (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, etc.) to function and remain healthy. The UKs Mental Health Foundation explores the role of foods and beverages that are consumed and also looks at the influence of these on how an individual feels.

To do its job well and serve us for life, everyone needs their teeth to be healthy and strong. Many people see daily brushing of teeth as all that needs to be done for good dental health but this is not so. Daily dental brushing is just one of a number of obligations one has to perform in maintaining good dental health. Among these obligations, regular visits to the dentist Meath for routine oral check-ups is critical.

What happens when someone doesn’t take care of their teeth as they should? Tooth decay continues to be a problem that plagues society. In one oral health research study conducted, 27 percent of respondents reported having tooth decay while 53 percent experienced bleeding gums. Poor oral health opens up the risk to a myriad of medical conditions, from cardiovascular problems to lung infections.

Consequences of adverse oral health

It takes physical and mental wellness to live a happy and fulfilling life. And for that, everyone needs to have bodies that are free from ill health and minds that are free from distress. For this state of equilibrium to be realised, dental health is needed.This may be better explained by looking at what are the costs to the wellbeing of poor dental health.

dental check up

Physical discomfort

Few experiences in life can be as disruptive to daily living as physical discomfort. When someone is in pain, they find it a challenge to act or think until they find relief from the painful symptoms. It is almost as if they need to put life on pause when in pain.

Loss of confidence

When it comes to making the most of one’s opportunities in life, confidence becomes an all-important factor. This confidence stems from multiple sources such as experiences, skills, abilities, achievements as well as appearance. Everyone needs pleasing smiles to be confident in their interactions with others too. Having a less than pleasing smile, it is more likely that one would shy away from opportunities than risk engaging with others.

Loss of the ability to smile

The physical action of smiling is said to stimulate the release of feel good endorphins in the brain. Endorphins help people to feel positive and happy and also have a positive effect on others. They have also been linked to creativity.

A life without good health or a positive outlook would simply be unbearable. The cycle of misery and discomfort (physically and mentally) would be all-consuming. One way to lower this risk is to take better care of dental health for a better quality of life.

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