In recent years, studies have shown that good oral health is just as important to a person’s overall health as it is to healthy teeth.  Poor dental hygiene and tooth decay can lead to heart problems, bacterial infections and an early death.

Studies in the past few years have shown that good oral health is just as important for a person’s overall health as it is to healthy teeth.

According to Fox News, poor dental hygiene and tooth decay can lead to more serious problems, such as health problems, bacterial infections and quite possibly, an early death.

But don’t freak out just yet. Fox News says there are things that can be done to catch and fix dental issues that could eventually lead to greater health problems, before they get out of hand.

Matthew Messina, an Ohio dentist and the consumer advisor for the American Dental Association, says the most important rule of thumb is to see a dentist at least once per year, since anything going on in the mouth that is out of the ordinary can affect your overall health, the report said.

Messina recommends looking around while you’re brushing your teeth, taking notice of any changes involving your tongue or your teeth.

“Pain, swelling and redness are all ways that our body tells us that something is wrong,” Messina told Fox News.

Three dental issues that could signal greater health problems are:

Bleeding gums. Most commonly, bleeding gums is an early sign of periodontal disease, which can be easily corrected by a dentist.  Messina says it might just mean you need to get your teeth cleaned, or it could also indicate a loss of bone around the teeth, which could lead to tooth loss, or the presence of bacteria in the gums, which could be an indication of diabetes and other systemic diseases.

Pain, swelling, sores that last more than two weeks. Pain and swelling along the gums, roof of the mouth, tongue and throat that may be caused by burns from hot food or from cold or canker sores usually disappears within two weeks, but anything longer could signal a greater problem, such as oral cancer, Messina says.
He recommends people see their dentist for any mouth pain that exists beyond two weeks and have sores removed and biopsied, Fox News said.

Bad breath. While mouth odors can simply stem from a need to brush, floss or get a teeth-cleaning, it also can indicate medical problems such as acid reflux disease, which leads to the wearing and erosion of the teeth, according to Fox News.