Health Conditions That Warrant Frequent Dental Visits
If you have certain health conditions, then you should visit your dentist on a regular basis for preventative dental care services. This is because certain medical conditions can raise the risk for gum disease, cavities, and oral infections. Here are some health conditions that warrant frequent dental visits so that oral problems can be diagnosed and treated before they progress.
Autoimmune Disorders
Many autoimmune disorders cause problems with your salivary glands. Autoimmune disease often cause the salivary glands to malfunction, which can result in poor salivary flow. When this happens, dry mouth usually develops, which can raise the risk for gum disease and cavities.
Saliva helps rinse away infection-causing bacteria inside your mouth, and when salivary flow is decreased because of salivary gland malfunction or otherwise, bacteria can build up. Because of this, you will need preventive dental care services so that your dental professional can monitor your oral cavity for problems related to dry mouth. To reduce your risk for oral infections or cavities, drink plenty of water throughout the day. Not only will this help reduce your risk for bacterial accumulation inside your mouth, it will also make eating and swallowing easier.
Diabetes Mellitus
If you have diabetes, you will need to visit your dentist on a regular basis. This is especially important if your diabetes is long-standing or if your blood glucose levels are poorly managed. When blood sugar levels get too high, your oral cavity may also have high concentrations of sugar.
Because many oral yeast infections thrive in the presence of sugar, you may be at risk for developing oral fungal infections. If you notice white patches inside your mouth that bleed easily, you may have a yeast or fungal infection.
Your dentist will examine your mouth, and if you have an infection, he or she will prescribe an anti-fungal medication. To reduce your risk for oral fungal infections, visit your physician regularly, monitor your blood sugar levels per your doctor's orders, take all of your prescribed medications, maintain a healthy weight, and get regular exercise.
If you have an autoimmune disorder or diabetes mellitus, see your dentist for preventative dental care services on a regular basis. When oral problems are recognized and treated early on, you will be less likely to experience complications such as a severe form of gum disease known as periodontitis, carious teeth, oral pain, and tissue damage inside your mouth.
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