Healthy Hygiene, Healthy Heart?
Believe it or not, how you take care
of your teeth affects not only your oral health, but may well affect
your heart health, too. Although scientists
are not certain of the precise relationship between the heart and oral
hygiene, studies consistently demonstrate a link between the two. It's
possible that a mouth filled with bacteria and their toxins allows a
continuous stream of poisons to enter the system. If the bacteria reaches
your arteries, it may easily irritate them, just as it irritated your
gums in the first place. And, such arterial wall irritations typically
result in a buildup of protective plaque, which in turn can harden, thus
blocking blood flow. Of course, without sufficient blood flow your heart
can easily have a heart attack. Further, loosened arterial plaque may
itself travel through the bloodstream, reach your brain, and form a stroke-producing
blockage.
Prevention & Detection
One way we can fight this situation is to
use a special “bacterial
neutralizing” rinse immediately after dental procedures to reduce
the possibility of bacteria entering your bloodstream. However, your
best defense against any of these possible scenarios is to maintain a
consistently healthy mouth. You do this not only through meticulous daily
brushing and flossing habits, but by visiting our office for your regular
check-ups at least twice a year. Remember, gum disease is a silent but
serious problem that may go unnoticed without those professional exams.
And it's relatively easy to take care of a little stubborn tooth plaque
now, but far more difficult to take care of the kind that builds up in
your arteries.
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