If you’re considering a career in the dental field that allows you to help clients manage their oral health, dental hygiene is an excellent option. It’s long been understood that proper dental hygiene is directly related to a healthy smile, but according to recent research, it may have a more significant effect than most are aware of. Keep reading to learn how dental hygiene affects overall health and, more specifically, the link between oral health and brain functioning. Understanding the gravity of oral hygiene certainly highlights the importance of careers in this field.
Your Work After Dental Hygienist Training Improves Overall Health for Clients
At one time, it was believed that the only consequence of poor oral hygiene was tooth loss and a less-than-pleasant smile, but in recent years, the connection between oral health and general wellness has been uncovered. How does oral hygiene impact the general health of the body? Poor oral health care can lead to bacterial infections. Microorganisms from infections then enter the bloodstream, causing or worsening a number of conditions.
For instance, bacteria from gum disease that has been carried through the bloodstream can cause artery-clogging plaques to form. In serious cases, infective endocarditis causes inflammation of the interior lining of the heart and its valves. The respiratory system is also affected by oral infection. When bacteria from the mouth is inhaled into the lungs, there is an elevated risk of conditions like pneumonia, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Bacteria from poor oral hygiene can even cause pregnant women to go into premature labour due to the inflammatory response. After dental hygienist training, you can play an integral role in protecting your clients from these adverse health effects and even help them maintain their brain function.
Dental Hygiene Can Cause Inflammation
When bacteria from oral infections enter the bloodstream, they have just as much potential to affect the brain as it does the heart, respiratory system, and gestation. According to research, poor oral hygiene increases inflammatory responses in the brain, increasing the risk of stroke when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or bursts. Oral health also has a significant impact on cognitive function, which involves working memory, impulse control, and a clear thought process. One review of 47 studies found a significant correlation between oral health and a person’s risk of cognitive decline in late adulthood. On a positive note, poor oral health is a modifiable health risk which means that, to a certain extent, it is within our control.
Good Dental Hygiene Promotes Well-Being
After dental hygienist school, your role is to improve the oral health of clients and empower them to maintain their own well-being. By applying an understanding of microbiology and infection control, oral pathology, clinical practice, and many other skills that you’ll develop in our oral hygienist program, you can effectively promote good oral hygiene and teach clients the practices that will help them safeguard their physical and cognitive well-being. With rigorous training, graduates are able to launch a successful career in dental hygiene.
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