Having good oral health is more important than you may realize.

It involves your teeth, gums and mouth.

Dr. Elise Sarvas with Mayo Clinic says inflammation caused by poor oral health not only leads to things like gum disease and cavities, which can affect a person’s quality of life, but that inflammation can spread and lead to an infection in the heart, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy and birth complications, even pneumonia.

“The mouth is the gateway to both the respiratory system and to the digestive system, and it can have implications far beyond just your teeth,” she said. “We all have bacteria in our mouths, and some are really helpful, but some bacteria, if they’re allowed to overgrow or cause some disease, those bacteria can enter our bloodstreams and cause inflammation, not only in our mouth, but that inflammation can spread to the rest of the body.”

Sarvas said the best way to keep your mouth healthy is to brush your teeth twice a day with a toothpaste that contains fluoride, to take bacteria off teeth and strengthen them, and floss at least once a day.

“If you don’t really floss your teeth, you’re missing almost 40% of the surfaces of the teeth in your mouth,” she said. “So, it’s almost like that brushing doesn’t quite count all the way.”

And finally, Sarvas says to make sure to see a dentist at least twice a year.

“That way they can do a good cleaning, but they can also have the ability to check on problems before they get out of control,” she said.

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