Impact Of Unhealthy Lifestyle On Oral Health

Dr. Firoz Lalani

Medically Reviewed By Dr. Firoz Lalani

Table of Contents

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims that 1 in every 4 adults in the United States suffers from untreated tooth decay. Oral hygiene is very important for a healthy body as the bacteria present in the mouth can have some adverse effects on the body. Similarly, poor dental care can have a negative effect on your overall health and can lead to several side effects such as cavities, inflammation, weakening of teeth, gum problems, and more. These oral issues can be very painful and will require immediate attention.

According to dental clinics of Texas, many more conditions can add to bad oral hygiene such as respiratory infections, diabetes, coronary conditions, dementia, and more.

The oral health of a person is synonymous with his overall well-being. The mouth is the crucial point for the beginning of any kind of infection and most of the time we make the biggest mistake of ignoring oral health and thus staining, hygiene of the gums and enamel is not taken into serious consideration until its too late. The presence of bacteria in the mouth can lead to severe inflammation allowing them to enter the bloodstream which can cause added inflammation in different parts of the body. In case the bacteria enters the heart, it can lead to critical heart conditions.

Best Dental offices in Houston share the effects of having an unhealthy lifestyle on oral health.

oral health

Consumption of Junk Food

Regular intake of carbonated drinks and sodas can lead to damaging our teeth and gums as they contain a very high level of sugar and also have a very acidic PH level. Food products like waffles, chocolates, pastries, and more have a very high amount of sugar and make the mouth a haven for harmful bacteria to thrive.

Consumption of these foods in excess can cause tooth decay and oral cavities. Consuming such foods regularly can cause several illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, and heart ailments which can become life-threatening.

Consumption of Tobacco and Cigarettes

Consumption of tobacco in any form such as cigars, cigarettes, and chewing of tobacco is detrimental to your oral health. Chewing tobacco or smoking causes staining of teeth and bad breath and also affects the sense of taste.

Excessive smoking can reduce the healing ability of the body and making it a target for several infections. Chewing tobacco and smoking is one of the major causes of lung diseases, cancer, gum diseases, tooth loss, extreme sensitivity, and tooth decay.

Smoking can also result in the receding of gums and is a major cause of gum diseases. Tobacco consumption and smoking can result in cancer of the tongue, lips, esophagus, mouth, or lung cancer.

Irregular Brushing Habits

The habit of not following a regular brushing pattern can cause many oral health problems such as cavities, weakening of teeth, oral infections, bad breath, and more. After the consumption of food, the mouth cavity becomes the breeding ground for the bad bacteria to flourish. Hence, it becomes essential to brush or rinse the mouth after eating anything to ensure protection from bad bacteria.

Brushing your teeth every morning and at night as well as using a mouth wash can help in reducing the formation of plaque on the teeth. Along with brushing teeth, we should also make cleaning of the tongue an essential part of daily oral hygiene as it helps in preventing diseases like halitosis, hairy tongue, and other diseases.

dental problems from stress

Impact of Stress

Stress and tension can have a major effect on our oral health. People generally tend to neglect and underestimate their oral hygiene ignoring its consequences. Being under stress can often tend to make people ignore their oral hygiene. Forgetting dental appointments or remembering to floss and brush becomes a regular habit.

Resorting to unhealthy life choices such as excessive drinking, regular smoking, consumption of excessive sugar foods can cause severe health problems like gum disease, tooth decay, or oral cancer is seen.

Nail Biting

Biting on nails can cause severe damage to your teeth and affect oral health. Some people have strong nails which make the teeth prone to injury. Biting on nails may lead to the enamel on the teeth cracking or get chipped.

Biting of nails also results in the bacteria entering the mouth which can cause many infections causing ill health and many oral health problems.

The best dentist in Houston TX suggests the best solution for maintaining good oral health is following a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle. Inclusion of regular morning walks, meditation as well as practicing yoga can result in good overall health making you more energetic, refreshed and active helping you focus more on keeping your oral health in check.

It is also advisable to reduce the consumption of food with high sugar content, refraining from excessive alcohol and smoking regularly along with following a regular sleep cycle can help you in maintaining good oral health and hygiene. Above all, consulting the best dental services is a great way to maintain oral health.

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