This is NPR's Life Kit with tools to help you get it together.

This is NPR's Life Kit. I'm Asia Drain.

Brush twice a day. Remember to floss. Get those pearly whites to the dentist twice a year.

We know the drill or maybe not.

For some, it's already a part of your routine to see a dentist. For others,

I'm sure the idea of going to the dentist can be anxiety-inducing.

With the unpleasantness, cost, and...

Yeah, that.

Doesn't sound too pleasant, does it?

There's a lot of valid fears of going to the dentist.

Pain, embarrassment, uncertainty.

But going to the dentist is an essential part of not just caring for your teeth,

but also your whole body.

Because if you want your body to be healthy, it starts with your mouth.

According to the Mayo Clinic, poor oral health has been associated with cardiovascular disease,

pneumonia, and even Alzheimer's disease.

But with some help in guidance, you have a lot of power to maintain that health.

It's more than just an aesthetic.

This is a health care modality.

And if you think about it, your mouth is the one area of your body that you can clean the inside of

without having some major procedure or major surgery.

And why would you not want to take advantage of that?

...