The Connection Between Dental and Heart Health

Many dental practitioners stand by the belief that the mouth is a reflection of a patient’s overall health, including harmful habits and nutritional status. But does the condition of one’s mouth have an effect on other parts of the body?

Does Dental Health Reflect Overall Health?

Many dentists and hygienists stress the importance of dental health and how it is crucial to maintain an overall healthy state. There are patients who suffer from diabetes, immune disorders, and have a history of heart conditions.
In cases such as these, taking good care of the teeth and gums can possibly prevent further damage elsewhere.
There have been extensive studies aimed at finding the connection between dental and heart health. These studies are currently inconclusive, however many have shown that people with dental problems are either already battling heart conditions, or are well on their way.

Our Mouths Are Dirty

The mouth carries a lot of different bacteria, many of which could be very harmful. The bacteria formed in the mouth could potentially enter the blood stream via the gums, causing blood cells to swell, thereby leaving the body susceptible to clogged arteries.
Periodontal diseases such as gingivitis may have a hand in arteriosclerosis, which is the hardening of arteries.
Interestingly, the process is similar to the formation of plaque, where a hard film clogs the gums, causing inflammation. Even the bacteria are similar.

What Can You Do?

A dental practitioner should take the time to educate his or her patients about the importance of not only keeping a healthy mouth, but also in keeping a healthy cardiovascular system. He or she should inform every patient that gum disease could potentially lead to more serious and complicated issues down the road, and not just in the mouth.
Not only should patients regularly brush, floss, and have regular visits to the dentist, but they should also take care to eat nutritious foods, exercise, and concentrate on achieving physical fitness.
This also goes for smoking and other habits that help run the risk of heart conditions. Patients would also do well to inform their medical doctor of any gum disease so that they can monitor the health of that patient’s heart.

See Your Dentist  Doctor Regularly

Heart conditions can be devastating to deal with, but they can sometimes also be prevented. Regular dental checkups involving scaling (scraping plaque and tartar off the teeth) can keep gum disease at bay and possibly even preventing a heart attack further down the road.
A nice smile is a good thing to have, but overall good health and a healthy heart are much more important. Keeping a vigilant and effective dental regime can achieve both.

(This article found here.)