The importance of properly caring for your oral health is not only for the sake of your mouth, but for your overall health as well. Your mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body, meaning that it provides many signs and warnings of trouble that could be happening with your health. The bacteria found within your mouth can lead to problems in other areas of your body, one area being the heart.
Is Your Heart at Risk?
The American Heart Association suggests that you can help lower the risk of developing certain cardiovascular diseases by properly caring for your oral health. When oral hygiene is lacking, the potential for tooth decay and gum disease to develop is much greater than for someone who cares for their teeth properly. When these conditions remain untreated, there is a higher chance that bacteria will enter the bloodstream, increasing the likelihood that other areas of the body, such as the tissues and arteries surrounding the heart, will become inflamed. This affects how the heart functions, leading to complications such as a stroke or coronary artery disease.
Ways to Help Your Oral Health
The easiest way to help your oral health is to maintain your oral hygiene routine. This includes brushing your teeth for two minutes at least twice daily. We also recommend using dental floss at least once a day. Dental floss is essential to remove lingering food and bacteria that remain between the teeth and cannot be reached by toothbrush bristles. Lingering bacteria turn into plaque and can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. It is also important to drink plenty of water and eat a healthy diet being sure to limit sugar consumption.
It is extremely important to visit our office regularly for a routine hygiene examination and cleaning. We suggest that most patients visit our office every six months, although some patients, such as those who are receiving gum disease treatment, may be advised to visit more frequently. Routine appointments allow our team to ensure that there are no problems in need of attention or additional treatments.
If you are located in the Brunswick, GA area and are in need of a routine hygiene examination or are concerned with the state of your oral health, we suggest calling our office to schedule an appointment. We look forward to seeing you soon!
