Good dental health is important for a clean overall health bill

Research has shown that good dental hygiene is linked to overall health. Members of the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) have studied how keeping a clean mouth can lead to fewer problems down the road.

Steven Grater, dentist and PDA member, says bacteria enters through the mouth. "To keep this bacteria from going into your body, cleaning your mouth (brushing, flossing and rinsing) is necessary."

Problems linked to oral health include heart disease and pregnancy complications. It is also linked to diabetes, which researchers find to be caused more specifically by tooth decay, infection or periodontal disease.

Individuals' dental health can also lead to chronic health problems. For example, difficulty chewing and swallowing could prevent the body from getting the proper nutrition it needs.

Grater says visiting the dentist regularly is important because it "will prevent additional disease that can likely cause you to be sick."