In more ways than one, your oral health is indicative of your overall health. You could even say that the health of your teeth and gums are a window to the rest of your body, and that your mouth is a wide open front door, where intruders can come in anytime you let them.
Okay, we’re done with the house analogies. But it’s true. If your oral health is on point, you will experience health benefits from such good habits. If you leave your oral healthcare plan up to chance, there are a host of health problems that could come down the road, which we’ll discuss in today’s blog.
Bad Oral Health and How it Relates to Your Heart
There’s a considerable amount of research that suggests heart disease, clogged arteries, and even strokes can be linked to gum inflammation and other infections that bacteria in your mouth can cause, which arise from neglect, poor diet, and poor lifestyle choices.
Bacteria from gum inflammation and periodontitis have the ability to enter your bloodstream. They can travel to your arteries in the heart, and eventually cause your arteries to harden (atherosclerosis).
You’ll Increase Your Risk of Diabetes
If you’re not on top of your oral health, diabetes can come as a result. Diabetes is a condition that reduces your body’s resistance to infection. This puts your body and your gums at risk. Also, periodontal disease has been shown to occur considerably more frequently (and also more severely) among those who have diabetes. People with gum disease have also been shown to have a harder time controlling blood sugar levels
Regular oral healthcare can also improve your diabetes control, so there’s also that to consider.
Poor Oral Health and Dementia
The bacteria that arises from gingivitis has the ability to enter the brain — through the bloodstream, or even the nerve channels in the head. Studies have shown that these bacteria found in gingivitis may promote the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Of course, we don’t mean for any of this to scare you. Midjersey Smiles believes in educating our patients and readership about what they stand to gain from good oral health practices, but also what they risk by not practicing good oral hygiene. Once you know the staggering health problems that can arise from not taking care of your teeth and gums, we figure you’ll be far less likely to ignore that aspect of your life.
May is #NationalDentalCareMonth, so it’s a great time to schedule a consultation with Midjersey Smiles, especially if we haven’t seen you in a while. We take smiles from zero to amazing. Call today to schedule your consultation.
