It may be recommended to see a dentist twice a year for cleanings and a checkup, but you may not want to wait until then if you have a major dental issue that concerns you. There are potential fatal complications that can happen from ignoring a dental issue.

Bacterial Infection That Spreads Through The Body

Your mouth can be a great place for bacteria to breed because of the moisture and temperature in it. In fact, there are more than 600 kinds of bacteria that are able to survive in a mouth. While flossing and brushing is the best way to keep those bacteria away, what you need to be concerned about is a bacterial infection that gets out of control.

Antibiotics can be used to treat a bacterial infection, but it will be much more difficult when an infection spreads so close to the mouth. It can easily affect the lungs, heart, or your brain by traveling through your blood or saliva.

Cardiovascular Problems From Improper Oral Hygiene

Since bacteria is able to easily travel through the body, dental problems can put you at risk of other health conditions. Gum disease can actually lead to osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

For example, you may be experiencing bleeding gums, which can create bacteria that easily travel through the bloodstream. Once it is inside blood vessels, it can attach to the wall inside the vessel. It contributes to fatty deposits building up that obstruct the flow of blood in your body, eventually leading to a potentially fatal heart attack in extreme situations.

Toxicity From Local Anesthetics

If you do wait too long to treat a dental issue, it may require you to undergo a complicated procedure to help fix it. This will require the use of local anesthesia, which has its own potential side effects that can be fatal. This includes having an allergic reaction to the anesthetic, or an accidental overdose.

Prior to having any type of surgery, including dental surgery, you will need to make your family dentist aware of any allergies to medication you have or previous surgery complications.

While it's possible for a fatal complication to stem from your oral health, it doesn't have to be that way. Always attend your semi-annual dental cleaning and checkup, and have dental issues treated at the first sign of trouble. Taking these steps could be key to saving your life by avoiding a fatal complication.