Cleaning your teeth every day is a necessary task if you want to avoid cavities and gum disease. But did you know that oral hygiene not only keeps your smile healthy but also helps your eye health?
Now, your dentist won’t be checking your eyes during appointments; however, by watching out for oral infections, they can give you a smile you love to look at. Understanding more about your oral health as well as optic issues can shed more light on how you can keep both your smile and eyes healthy!
How Your Mouth Can Mess with Your Eyes
At first, these body parts may not seem related. However, when you look closer, the connection becomes clearer. Many people who struggle with tooth loss and poor oral health are much more likely to have vision issues, including glaucoma.
In addition, when gum are inflamed, the bacteria causing the infection can enter the bloodstream and travel to the optic nerve. Inflammation not only irritates the person’s eyes, causing pain, but it can also damage the nerve, leading to vision problems.
Taking Care of Your Mouth
Fortunately, maintaining a healthy, infection-free mouth is actually quite simple. You need to do the following:
- Brush and floss your teeth thoroughly every day.
- Visit your dentist at least every six months for checkups and cleanings.
- Eat healthy, low-sugar foods to control bacterial growth in the mouth.
Taking Care of Your Eyes
Just as important as your regular dental appointment, seeing an experienced optometrist at least once per year gives your doctor the chance to check in on your eye health. If they detect changes or any signs of trouble, they can then treat the condition as early as possible, helping you hold onto your vision.
On top of your yearly eye exam, you can keep your eyes healthy by staying active. Research suggests that being physically active lowers your chances of type 2 diabetes, a disease known to impair your eyes. Additionally, exercise can reduce your odds of cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
In the end, although the condition of your mouth is certainly not the only factor to your eye health, taking necessary steps you do regularly can help you enjoy a brilliant, strong smile and strong eyes to see it!