How Good Oral Health Can Fortify Your Immune System

The immune system plays a crucial role in keeping our bodies healthy. Its primary responsibility is fighting off infections, germs, and diseases. While it may not seem obvious, a problem in one system can affect the performance of another. To that end, taking proper care of your smile is not only necessary to maintain good oral health, but to keep your overall health in tip-top shape as well. Read on to learn how a healthy mouth can fortify your immune system and ensure it’s working properly.  

How Does Your Mouth Affect Your Overall Health?

As the gateway into the body, the mouth is a point of entry for bacteria and germs to enter your respiratory system and bloodstream. It’s worth noting that most of the bacteria in your mouth are harmless and do not typically enter the bloodstream. However, some can cause disease and lead to other health complications down the line. If you take proper care of your teeth and gums, your body can naturally keep bacteria under control. Otherwise, bacteria can reach dangerous levels and lead to oral infections like tooth decay and gum disease.

Gum Disease and Your Immune System

Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease, often characterized by red, swollen, tender, and bleeding gums. The good news is it can be reversed by eliminating plaque with a toothbrush, floss, and professional cleaning. If left untreated, it can develop into periodontitis. At that point, the inflammation begins to progress and attacks the jawbones.

The immune system is designed to attack and kill the harmful bacteria that invade your body. It’ll step in to protect the mouth when you have gum inflammation. But if you’re unhealthy, the immune system will need to work harder to attack the bacteria, ignoring other parts of the body where infections or inflammation occur. When it’s not strong enough to keep up, diseases can take over, resulting in health complications.

Tips to Keep Your Immune System Strong

By keeping your immune system strong and functioning properly, it can easily prevent infections like gum disease from happening. That said, here are some steps you can take to fortify your immune system:

• Minimize stress as much as possible
• Exercise for at least 30 minutes each day
• Get an adequate amount of sleep
• Avoid excess alcohol consumption and using tobacco
• Practice good oral hygiene (i.e., brush twice a day, floss daily, rinse every day with an ADA-approved mouthwash)
• Stick to a healthy diet full of nutrient-rich foods (i.e., whole grains, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins)
• Wash your hands regularly
• Visit your dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning

Your mouth and body are connected in more ways than you think. As you can see, it’s incredibly important to keep your gums healthy and free of infection. It’ll allow your immune system to focus on the rest of your body and keep your body in optimal condition.

About the Practice

At Studio City Dental Arts, we always go the extra mile to give every patient the best service and care possible. Our team uses the latest technologies, techniques, and materials to ensure you receive the quality care you deserve. If you’d like to learn more about the connection between your oral health and your immune system, feel free to ask our knowledgeable team. You can reach out via our website or call (818) 760-0200.