How Allergies Affect Teeth And Oral Hygiene

Asthma and allergies can take a toll on our overall health. If you or a loved one has this recurrent condition, you would know how important it is to try to contain it during the early stages. However, many people are not aware that this can affect dental health as well.

Be Aware of Possible Symptoms

At times when the upper respiratory tract is in distress, a patient will usually breathe through the mouth until it is resolved. This can lead to xerostomia or mouth dryness. Since saliva serves as a lubricant that flushes away harmful bacteria, the lack of it can lead to gingivitis, halitosis and cavity development.

Home Care Tips

There are a number of ways you can protect your mouth from dryness. To start, it would be best if you rinsed your mouth after using an inhaler. This will keep it well hydrated. Chewing gum is another great way to keep your saliva at normal levels, as it encourages its production. However, it would be wise to stick to sugar-free varieties.

Brush and floss your teeth at least twice daily. By being even more vigilant, you can save yourself from having to pay huge amounts for restorative treatments. You should visit the dentist for bi-annual cleanings and be wary of early stage gingivitis as well.

Oral health plays a vital role in overall health. Since our oral cavity is said to be the dirtiest part of the human body, which is why it is important to be twice as vigilant if you are prone to allergies.