Does Poor Oral Health Affect Heart Health?
At Integrity Dental, we are passionate about helping our patients have optimal oral health. Unfortunately, there are always some individuals who do not make their oral health a priority. Poor oral health can be caused by a number of factors, including poor brushing habits, a lack of routine dental care, and delayed treatments. Being diligent with your oral health does more than help your teeth and mouth. Not caring for your mouth properly can lead to complications with your overall health, including problems with your heart.
How Can Your Oral Health Affect Your Heart?
Your mouth is known as the gateway to your overall health. Most things that enter your body come through your mouth. When tooth decay and gum disease are prevalent and untreated, you can develop additional problems with your overall health. In the case of gum disease, the harmful bacteria causing the infection in your mouth can get into your bloodstream, affecting the tissues surrounding the heart. Cardiac tissue and arteries can become inflamed by bacteria, affecting how your heart functions.
What Can Be Done to Maintain Oral Health?
There are simple steps that can be taken to ensure that your oral health is maintained. The most important step you can take to help your oral health and your overall health is to visit our office every four to six months for routine hygiene examinations. The frequency of your visits will be determined by your oral health. During these appointments, we not only clean your teeth, but we also check for signs of gum disease. Since it is the start of the new year, it is the perfect time to schedule your next visit. We also recommend:
- Brushing teeth thoroughly for two minutes twice a day
- Flossing daily
- Eating a healthy diet and limiting snacks between meals
If you have not visited our office within the past four to six months for a routine hygiene examination and cleaning, we suggest scheduling an appointment today. We look forward to seeing you in our Wellington, FL office soon.
