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How Heart Disease is Connected to Poor Oral Hygiene
Posted on 4/20/2018 by Sundberg Office
We hear a lot about how oral health is important to your overall health. This is an important message since over 80% of Americans are living with gum disease (periodontal disease) today.
Unfortunately, this often goes undiagnosed because a person's teeth feel fine. Nevertheless, poor oral hygiene can lead to heart disease - something that's important to understand today.
Understanding how Poor Oral Hygiene is Connected to Heart Disease
Studies provide evidence of two specific links between oral health and heart disease. The first occurs when you have moderate or advanced gum disease.
This places you at greater risk of developing heart disease than someone who has healthy gums. Secondly, it's important to understand that your oral health gives your doctor's warning signs about various diseases and conditions - including heart disease.
The reason these things are related is due to bacteria and germs. These travel from your mouth to other parts of your body through your bloodstream. Once these reach your heart, they can become attached to any damaged area.
From there they can cause inflammation that results in illnesses like endocarditis, which is an infection of the inner lining of your heart. This isn't the only cardiovascular condition that can happen though. You can also develop atherosclerosis (clogged arteries) or have a stroke.
Now that you understand the importance of good oral hygiene, isn't it time you give us a call? It's important for you to be proactive about your oral health and we can help. By visiting our office, we can give you a healthy smile.
We'll clean your teeth and look for any issues that we need to fix for you. When you take the time to do this, you're protecting yourself from developing heart disease. It really is this easy to have a longer, healthier life.