In your mouth live over 20 billion bacteria which reproduce every five hours. While some promote health, others provoke disease both oral and overall. It is clear that regular dental appointments can help you avoid cavities. But apart from such an obvious benefit, a dental check-up can offer you other health benefits. Dental health is an essential part of overall wellbeing. 

Keep reading to discover 5 unobvious health benefits that can offer you regular visits to the dentist’s office. 

1. Protect the brain health

There is a clear link between your brain and teeth. Dental conditions like tooth decay or periodontal disease produce noxious and nasty bacteria that can enter your bloodstream. This can cause problems anywhere in your body, including your brain. This can cause serious health problems and increase your risk of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. 

2. Help improve night’s sleep

Good oral health is key to a good night’s sleep. If you experience frequent night awakes the sleep apnea can be to blame. Sleep apnea is a condition in which you suddenly stop breathing during the night’s sleep. There can be several episodes during the night. In the morning you may feel extremely tired. Sleep apnea increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation(abnormal heartbeat). 

If you suspect you have sleep apnea, schedule an appointment with a dentist who is trained in dental sleep medicine. The doctor can help you improve the quality of night’s sleep and overall wellbeing.

3. Lower the risk of chronic headaches

There are several ways dental problems can provoke headaches. One of them is teeth grinding and jaw clenching called bruxism. This condition can cause facial pain and headaches in the morning. Over time, this can cause severe wear and tear of the dental enamel. Most people who have bruxism are not aware they're grinding teeth at night. During the regular dental appointment, your doctor can help you detect the issue and treat it. 

The second cause of headaches is a temporomandibular joint disorder. This condition causes swelling and inflammation in the temporomandibular joint. When it spreads, muscles become tight and inflamed causing spasm. This contributes to headaches around the skull and face.

4. Decrease the risk of heart disease

While the link between dental and heart health may seem unobvious, certain dental conditions can increase your risk of cardiovascular problems significantly. Gum disease is an inflammatory condition caused by bacteria build-up on the gums. This condition can cause bacteria to enter your bloodstream. Bacteria in the bloodstream may affect heart valves and cause overall body inflammation. 

To decrease the risk of health problems, you need to maintain good oral hygiene and visit a dental specialist regularly. If you notice gum disease symptoms like gums bleeding after brushing or redness and swelling of your gums, schedule an appointment with your dental specialist. 

5. Help detect oral cancer in the early stage

Oral cancer is cancer that develops in the lining of the lips, mouth, or upper throat. This serious condition often begins as a mild dental issue and may cause mouth pain, red and white patches, or difficulty swallowing. Your dentist is specially trained to screen for oral cancer and can notice abnormal changes at an early stage. Early detection is the best defense against oral cancer. 

If you have any complaints and symptoms that bother you and last more than two weeks, schedule a visit to your dentist. If your dentist sees anything suspicious, he may biopsy the area to rule out any abnormal cells. Make sure to go in for your six-month checkup with your dentist to ensure better oral and overall health. 

Regular dental appointments are an important part of the healthcare routine that can provide you with better sleep, better health, and longer life. Schedule a visit to your dental specialist to stay on top of your overall health!