Christmas is past. Herbie the Dental Elf is busy caring for the folks at the North Pole. And the rest of us, having spent a month or two eating way too many wonderful desserts, could probably use a checkup of our own.

It matters far more than most people think. Dental care is part of overall health. As a young medical student I didn’t get it. I was dismissive of dentists and dentistry in my youthful arrogance (despite having no small number of fillings). In time I learned that 1) oral health really matters, and 2) dentists usually have nights, weekends and holidays off. Who’s laughing now? But I digress …

In my career, I’ve seen far too many young people who were completely edentulous (without teeth). Others, with many cavities and frequent infections already occurring in their 20s, said to me, “I’m saving up to just have all of them pulled out.” I always tried to encourage them to have their teeth repaired and restored instead of removed.

First of all, without natural teeth, the bones in which the teeth had been anchored begin to weaken and deteriorate, and chewing becomes more difficult. Some types of dentures and dental implants can help prevent this, but natural teeth are always preferred — and cheaper!

Second, the loss of teeth is a cosmetic issue, not only in terms of the teeth themselves, but because loss of bone structure in the face causes visible changes in the shape of the face and in the ability to speak clearly. Picture your ancient relative with no teeth, and you can see how the shape of the face and mouth are affected.

However, it gets worse. Dental infections and decay are known to be associated with infections of heart valves, a condition called endocarditis. It’s dangerous and hard to treat, and sometimes requires valve replacement. Some also believe that the same dental infections may be triggers for coronary blockages leading to heart attacks. Dental problems in pregnant women may also contribute to premature birth.

On the whole, it’s best to take good care of your teeth with brushing, flossing and regular dental visits … to human — not elf — dentists.

Try these websites for more information: https://goo.gl/fFN8z8 and https://goo.gl/XWM5Ki.