Avoiding The Dentist Could Affect Your Sense of Smell
Of all the senses, smell may be the one you think you could live without. However, the sense of smell is actually extremely important and can prevent people from stumbling into potentially hazardous situations, such as house fires and areas affected by gas leaks.
Research suggests that smell and taste are closely linked, with experts suggesting that around 90 percent of the sense of taste being down to smell. There are various factors that can affect your sense of smell and you may be surprised to find that avoiding a trip to the dentist could be damaging to your ability to smell, as well as the health of your teeth and gums.
Dr Helen Stokes-Lampard, from the Royal College of General Practitioners, warned that avoiding regular dental check-ups could cause harmful bacteria to collect in the mouth, contributing to decay, gum disease and possibly the development of abscesses. Once bacteria has collected in the mouth it can travel into the maxillary sinuses, which are located at the back of the cheekbones, and cause inflammation, pain and a reduced sense of smell.
Other possible causes of an impaired sense of smell include using powerful household cleaning products on a regular basis, ageing, pregnancy, nerve damage and diabetes.
Regular dental check-ups are important not only to keep your sense of smell in check, but also to prevent oral health diseases, such as decay and gum disease. Numerous studies have also established a link between the bacteria associated with gum disease and an increased risk of serious medical conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and strokes.
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